Frontier India » Space

ISRO to launch GSLV D5 in July after indigenous cryogenic engine test

(FINN) Frontier India News Network — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 03:18:44 +0000

Bangalore: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to go ahead with (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) GSLV D5 in July. The decision comes after successful ignition of an indigenous cryogenic engine on Wednesday, in conditions simulating the high altitude atmosphere.

The hot test took place in the newly built high altitude test facility (HAT) at ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari district.

ISRO C12 indigenous cryogenic engine upper stage of GSLV D5 at High Altitude Test facility, Mahendragiri

In April 2012, the flight test of indigenous Cryogenic Engine on GSLV-D3 ended up in failure. The original schedule for Flight testing of GSLV-D5 with 3.4 m Payload Fairing and indigenous cryo stage was targeted for the middle of 2012 and GSLV-D6 with 4m Payload Fairing and indigenous cryo stage was planned for April 2013.

The indigenous cryogenic engine is designed to a thrust of 73 kilo Newtons (kN) in vacuum with a specific impulse of 454 seconds and provides a payload capability of 2200 Kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) for GSLV. The Engine works on Staged Combustion Cycle with an integrated turbopump running at around 42,000 rotations per minute (rpm). It is also equipped with two steering engines developing a thrust of 2 kN each to enable three-axis control of the launch vehicle during the mission. Another unique feature of this engine is the closed loop control of both thrust and mixture ratio, which ensures optimum propellant utilisation for the mission.

The cryogenic stage, which uses a combination of two tonne liquid hydrogen and 11 tonne liquid oxygen, is meant to replace the Russian supplied cryogenic stage in GSLV.

ISRO has no ASAT Program – Government

(FINN) Frontier India News Network — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:25:55 +0000

New Delhi: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Department of Space has no programme to develop Anti-Satellite Technology capabilities, said the Indian government in the Parliament.

The Department of Space is meant for peaceful utilisation of Space it added.

In 2007, after Chinese ASAT tests, the then scientific advisor to the Indian defense minister had said that ISRO and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) could collaborate to develop satellite kill technologies.

Since inception, India has managed to keep ISRO away from military use of space.

PSLV – C20 launches 7 satellites including Indo-French SARAL

(FINN) Frontier India News Network — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:56:27 +0000

Bangalore: Indian Space Research organisation’s (ISRO) workhorse, the Polar satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) today orbited Indo – French SARAL/AltiKa and 6 foreign satellites. The launch occurred from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, at 6.01 PM. This is the 22nd successful launch of PSLV.

PSLV-C20

The first satellite to separate was SARAL, which now has it’s panels deployed.

The SARAL/AltiKa project is a collaboration between France and India in the environment monitoring domain. ISRO developed IMS-2 Platform (Small Satellite Bus) embarks two independent payloads, ARGOS-3 and AltiKa (+DORIS, +LRA). The duo will be placed at High inclination orbit at 800 km altitude.

Other satellites which were injected into space were from Canada (2), Austria (2), Denmark (1) and UK (1), including UniBrite and Brite of Austria, AAUSAT-3 of Denmark, Strand-1 of UK and NEOSSat & Sapphire from Canada.

The satellites have been placed at 6 Am to 6 PM orbit or the SMAP orbit.

ISRO to launch Canadian NEOSSat space telescope with SARAL on PSLV C20

(FINN) Frontier India News Network — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:08:15 +0000

New Delhi: Indian Space Research organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch the Canadian Space Agency Telescope NEOSSat (Near-Earth Object Space Surveillance Satellite) on February 25th. The satellite will be launched by the ISRO’s work horse PSLV C20 (Polar Satellite launch vehicle). It joins the primary payload the Indian-France satellite SARAL (Satellite with ARgos and ALtiKa). ISRO and French National Space Agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) have jointly built SARAL. Other Canadian satellites which will ride on the rocket is Sapphire.

The initial launch date was 12th February but was postponed after an issue with SARAL during thermo-vacuum testing.

The satellite by The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is dedicated to discovering and tracking asteroids, monitoring satellites and space debris. Canadian satellite NEOSSat (Near-Earth Object Space Surveillance Satellite) arrived in India on January 18.

SARAL will enable closer monitoring of sea surface height from space.

S Ramakrishnan takes over as Director of ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

(FINN) Frontier India News Network — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:23:57 +0000

Bangalore: S Ramakrishnan today took over as Director of Indian Space Research Center’s (ISRO) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) from P S Veeraraghavan. Ramakrishnana has more than four decades of experience in rocketry and was previously headed the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) for past two years.

Ramakrishnan is an acclaimed expert in the areas of Aerospace Propulsion, Launch Vehicle Systems and Project Management. prior to taking leadership of LPSC, he was Director (Projects) at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and was Chairman, Flight Readiness Review and played a key role in accomplishing the PSLV C- 11/Chandrayaan Missions.

Following the footprints of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, Ramakrishnan played a key role in realising India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle SLV-3. He was Project Director for PSLV continuation programme during 1996-2002 and under his leadership the PSLV was operationalised, enhancing its payload capability from 900 kg to 1500 kg.

He was Mission Director for PSLV C1, C2, C3 and C4 flights. Ramakrishnan is a recipient of many national awards. The country also honoured him with a Padma Shri in 2003.

In another appointment, John P Zachariah is appointed as Director (R&D) of VSSC. A distinguished scientist and a recipient of many prestigious awards, Zachariah has 40 years of association with the Indian Space programme in various capacities. Prior to taking over as Director (R&D) of the Centre, he was the Associate Director of VSSC.

He is also an expert in the launch vehicle area, especially in the launch vehicle integration and automatic launch processing systems. He has also made significant contributions in development of advanced systems like Onboard Computers, Advanced Telemetry Systems and Inertial Navigation Systems. He was instrumental in the successful realisation of all the PSLV and GSLV missions so far, said an ISRO release.

ISRO’s heaviest GSAT-10 satellite launched from Ariane 5 rocket

(FINN) Frontier India News Network — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 03:47:04 +0000

French Guiana: The fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2012 delivered a pair of telecommunications spacecraft to geostationary transfer orbit, including ASTRA 2F and Indian Space Research organisation’s (ISRO) GSAT-10 satellite. At 3400 kg, GSAT-10 satellite is the heaviest satellite that ISRO has ever built. This is ISRO’s 101st space mission. Arianespace has now lofted 15 spacecrafts for ISRO.

Based on the I-3K satellite bus, GSAT-10 carries 30 transponders as well as the GAGAN (GPS and GEO augmented navigation) system. The satellite will provide Ku- and C-band relay capacity when it joins the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system of geostationary spacecraft.

ISROs Master Control Facility (MCF) has taken over the command and control of the GSAT-10 satellite immediately after the injection and all parameters have been found satisfactory. The satellite has been oriented towards the Earth and the Sun using the onboard propulsion systems. GSAT-10 satellite will be ready for operational use by November 2012.

GAGAN payload will provide improved accuracy of GPS signals of better than 7 meters, to be used by the Airports Authority of India for Civil Aviation requirements. This is the second satellite in INSAT/GSAT constellation with GAGAN payload after GSAT-8, launched in May 2008.

GSAT-10 satellite will be positioned on 83o E orbital location along with INSAT-4A and GSAT-12. The operational life of GSAT-10 is expected to be 15 years nominal.

ISRO nabs impostor woman scientist

(FINN) Frontier India News Network — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:55:22 +0000

Bangalore: The India Space research organisation (ISRO) on Sunday nabbed a women, Duela M. Sam, aged 40 years, posing as a scientist with fake id card. Police sources say that she is from Ahmadabad and married to a school teacher Alex from Kerala.

The woman had checked in the ISRO guest house two days earlier. She was asked for a ID card by the Central Industrial Security Force, who were posted at the Yelahanka facility of ISRO. The ID card drew suspicion and found to be fake.

The police commissioner said, the woman was undergoing treatment for depression, She has been sent to judicial custody till October 6 by a court on Sunday. She has been charged under sections 448, 171, 471, 467 and 465 of IPC.

Indo-French climate monitoring satellite Megha-Tropiques in space

P. Chacko Joseph — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:20:24 +0000

Indian Space Research organisation’s (ISRO) workhorse the PSLV C-18 today lobbed the 1000 kg Indo French satellite the Megha Trophiques, two small sats and one nanosat into the space. PSLV-C18 injected Megha-Tropiques satellite into an orbit of 867 km altitude at an inclination of 20 deg with respect to equator. This is the 20th Polar satellite launch vehicle to be launched from the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre. ISRO has launched 32 space missions with own launchers. The three other satellites are the 10.4-kg SRMSAT built by students of SRM University, the three kg remote sensing satellite Jugnu developed by the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur and the 28 kg VesselSat from Luxumbourg to locate ships on high seas.

This mission is the result of a joint effort initiated by CNES and ISRO in 1997. ISRO and the French National Space Agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) have signed MoU for joint satellite missions like Megha-Tropiques and SARAL. In addition, many commercial and collaborative activities, specifically in the launch services area, space applications and academics are being pursued with France. Megha-Tropiques is a part of constellation for GPM.

PSLV-C 18

Dr K Radhakrishnana called the launch as a “grand success.” Prof Narasimha and Dr Kasturirangan, the people who conceived the Megha-Tropiques were in the control room. CNES was also represented.

The PS 4 engine performed well as it underwent changes for reducing weight and control. This modification was specific for Megha-Tropiques.

Megha-Tropiques is equipped with 4 instruments. MADRAS, to track the distribution and dynamics of rain and clouds; SAPHIR, to obtain humidity profiles; SCARAB, which will record energy fluxes; and a GPS receiver, which will supply humidity and temperature profiles.

Megha-Tropiques antennas and solar panels have been deployed and will orbit for 3 – 5 years.

Placed in a 20-degree-inclined equatorial orbit, Megha-Tropiques will observe the Intertropical Zone at least 3 times a day, from 23°N to 23°S. For CNES, Eumetsat5 will retrieve data in under 3 hrs. to improve forecasting of cyclones and monsoons.

Next year second quater will see the GSLV with indigenous Cryogenic engine being launched as per the ISRO. One more PSLV will be launched this year. PSLV C- 18 was readied in just 3 months and the center has made 5 launch vehicles this year till date.

PSLV-C17 Launches GSAT-12 Satellite

(FINN) Frontier India News Network — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:00:02 +0000

PSLV-C17 today successfully launched GSAT-12 Satellite into a sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit of 284 km perigee and an apogee of 21,000 km. GSAT-12 communication satellite weighing 1410 kg with 12 Ext-C Band transponders will augment the communication services in India. The rocket lifted at 4.48 p.m today.

GSAT-12 Communication satellite with a mass of 1410 kg at lift-off, has 12 Extended C-band transponders. The Liquid Apogee Motor of the satellite will be used to raise both apogee and perigee of the Satellite to place it in a circular orbit of 36,000 km altitude. Once operational,

PSLV C 17 Launch

Indian will have a total of 187 transponders.

This is the 19th flight of PSLV and is the XL version which is needed to place the satellite in geostationary orbit. The total cost of the mission is approximately Rs 190 crores.

This is the second time that PSLV is being used for launching a communication satellite. On September 12, 2002, PSLV placed Kalpana-1, a meteorological satellite. PSLV normally launches remote sensing satellites.

Advanced Communication Satellite GSAT-8 Launched Successfully

(FINN) Frontier India News Network — Sat, 21 May 2011 06:05:26 +0000

India’s advanced communication satellite, GSAT-8, was successfully launched at 02:08 hrs IST today (May 21, 2011) by the Ariane-V launch vehicle of Arianespace. Ariane V placed GSAT-8 into the intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) of 35,861 km apogee and 258 km perigee, with an orbital inclination of 2.503 deg with respect to equator.

ISRO’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka acquired the signals from GSAT-8 satellite immediately after the injection. Initial checks on the satellite have indicated normal health of the satellite. The satellite was captured in three-axis stabilisation mode.

GSAT-8

Preparations are underway for the firing of 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) during the third orbit of the satellite on May 22, 2011 at 03:58 hrs IST as a first step towards taking the satellite to its geostationary orbital home.

Ariane 5 launcher was launched from Europe’s Spaceport to place the ST-2 and GSAT-8 satellites into their planned transfer orbits. Liftoff of the 58th Ariane 5 mission came at 22:38 CEST (20:38 GMT; 17:38 French Guiana).