Indian Space Program Discussion

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 28 Jan 2010 22:24

India plans 1st manned space flight for 2016
Don't miss the comments.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 28 Jan 2010 22:28

disha ji, perhaps you are feeling a bit too paranoid !

not all shots are enemy fires.

shravan · Post by **shravan** » 01 Feb 2010 19:10

India building spacecraft to enable use of satellite phones

India is building a spacecraft for mobile applications that will enable use of satellite phones without dependence on foreign players, a top space scientist said here on Monday.

Presently, satellite phones used in India are supported by foreign satellites, including Indonesian ones.

“We are yet to make an impact on satellite-based mobile communication. But again there are plans to evolve such systems,” former ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair said.

“Designs are evolved. They (ISRO) are in the process of building the satellite,” he told reporters after addressing the India Semiconductor Association’s Vision Summit.

“It requires a huge deployable antenna on board. With that...with reasonable power, we can manage hand held communication systems. Maybe in a year or two, it (the satellite) will be up,” Nair said.

He said only the S-band can be used for mobile applications. “Already ISRO is doing some work on that...almost like PC (Personal Computer) size,” the scientist said.

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 04 Feb 2010 17:43

'India to launch high-resolution CARTOSAT-2B soon'
http://www.ptinews.com/news/500285_-Ind ... B-shortly-

Bangalore, Feb 4 (PTI) India would shortly launch Cartosat-2B, a high-resolution remote sensing satellite, that would aid in infrastructure and urban planning, Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Radhakrishnan said today.

The launch was expected by March end or mid-April and the exact date would be finalised at the mission readiness review (MRR) meeting on February 10, he told reporters here.The satellite, which would be launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), has a 0.8 metre resolution. This makes it capable to even take pictures of a car on the ground.
"Basically, it's a high resolution satellite," he said.

India launched Cartosat-2 in January 2007 and Cartosat-2A in April 2008. Cartosat-2B would add to the capability of the first two satellites.

"The advantage is when you have three satellites, you get more coverage in a day from different locations

KrishG · Post by **KrishG** » 04 Feb 2010 23:06

Chandrayaan-2 Program updates

vasu_ray · Post by **vasu_ray** » 04 Feb 2010 23:13

shravan wrote:India building spacecraft to enable use of satellite phones

is this a single GEO sat or LEO constellation similar to Iridium, but lesser in numbers covering only Asia?

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 08 Feb 2010 00:50

Wanted: four 'vyomanauts' for Indian spaceflight

harbans · Post by **harbans** » 08 Feb 2010 15:11

^^ Vyomagami sounds cool. Better than Vyomanaut or gaganaut.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 09 Feb 2010 04:55

GSLV flight in April: ISRO Chief

Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K. Radhakrishnan on Monday said the flight- testing of the indigenous cryogenic stage of the GSLV D3 would be conducted in April.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 09 Feb 2010 04:59

Tubular structure on lunar surface ideal for landing: Chandrayaan I report

Remnant tubular structures or tunnel-like formations from lunar volcanic flows in the past, which extend a couple of kilometres on the moon’s surface, could serve as ideal landing as well as human settlement sites for future missions, including Chandrayaan-II, according to some new findings from India’s Chandrayaan-1.

shravan · Post by **shravan** » 09 Feb 2010 17:59

India to build intelligent satellite for surveillance

Bangalore, Feb 9 (IANS) India is set to develop a dedicated network-centric communication intelligence satellite for detecting conversations and espionage activities in the region, a top defence scientist said Tuesday.
“We are in the process of designing and developing a spacecraft fitted with an intelligent sensor that will pick up conversations and communications across the borders,” Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) director G. Bhoopathy told reporters here.

The Rs.100 crore (Rs.10 billion) satellite will be developed in partnership with the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and launched in the lower earth orbit - about 500 km above the earth - on board the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, about 80 km north-east of Chennai.

“The satellite fitted with the electronic sensor will be more powerful than the remote sensing satellites (IRSA) of ISRO. The spacecraft should be ready for launch by 2014,” Bhoopathy said on the margins of a preview on the first international conference on electronic warfare (EWCI 2010).

The Hyderabad-based DLRL, which functions under the aegis of state-run Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), is also developing a border network-centric electronic warfare sensor for surveillance on the Indian borders in the mountain range and desert areas.

“The electronic warfare (EW) sensor will be located on the mountain range facing Pakistan, China, Nepal and the northeast to detect troop or vehicular movement across the borders. Some of the sensors can also be deployed in the plains or desert for monitoring the ground situation in border areas,” Bhoopathy said.

Code-named “Divya Drushti” (foresight), the radars will be installed on the mountain tops from December this year onwards.

Venu · Post by **Venu** » 09 Feb 2010 18:34

shravan wrote:India to build intelligent satellite for surveillance

This reminds me of an automobile ad coming on tv now-a-days which says If you have power, you need not show it.

Why can't we Indians do anything secretly and tell out only when it is operational for some time?

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 09 Feb 2010 18:40

WRT the Cartosat 2B proposed launch:

This makes for at least 5 known satellites with specific military applications presently in orbit by india. The TecSAR is also possibly available for Indian use. Cartosat 2B will be the 7th spy satellite in orbit by India. The earlier IRS series (Other than the TES and Cartosats which are also IRS series satellites) of which at least 5 remain in orbit also have rudimentary military applications if required.

1. TES - Launched 22 Oct 2001
2. Cartosat 1 - 5 May 2005
3. Cartosat 2 - 10 Jan 2007
4. TecSAR - 21 Jan 2008
5. Cartosat 2A - 28 April 2008 (The famous 10 simultaneous launch on PSLV-c9)
6. RISAT-2 - 20 April 2009
7. Cartosat 2B - Feb 2010 (proposed)

Brando · Post by **Brando** » 09 Feb 2010 18:48

Venu wrote:
shravan wrote:India to build intelligent satellite for surveillance
This reminds me of an automobile ad coming on tv now-a-days which says If you have power, you need not show it.

Why can't we Indians do anything secretly and tell out only when it is operational for some time?

To quote Sun Tzu: "All War is deception".

This article is just another form of warfare.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 09 Feb 2010 18:51

shravan wrote:India to build intelligent satellite for surveillance

What duration of coverage will such a satellite have over say pakistan and eastern and western china? Not more than a couple of hours a day. And revisit time over a specific geographic area will be once in a few weeks unless the satellite constantly reorients its antennas all the time.
It will have to store data (eastern china) and transmit it once it nears an appropriate earth station.
The pakistanis possibly don't use comm satellites for mil communications (other than routine telecomm) and here a geo stationary satellite co-located with the paki satellite will be more helpful in also duly receiving all incoming data. (the outgoing data from the satellite can be easily received by any suitably placed ground station and run through a deciphering software)

One satellite and that too in a LEO is like a drop in an ocean.

jaladipc · Post by **jaladipc** » 09 Feb 2010 19:30

for space experts,

Is it possible to have a sat in stationary orbit for extended periods of time without burning fuel?

Lets say we want to keep and eye on porki land for example,and launch a RISAT/CARTOSAT dedicated for pakistan(parked at an altitude of some 1000km) to monitor every nook and corner with a vectoring camera/radar.

Shalav · Post by **Shalav** » 09 Feb 2010 21:22

^^

No! "Stationary" satellites are at geostationary orbits - much higher than 1000 km.

Brando · Post by **Brando** » 09 Feb 2010 22:33

jaladipc wrote:Is it possible to have a sat in stationary orbit for extended periods of time without burning fuel?

Lets say we want to keep and eye on porki land for example,and launch a RISAT/CARTOSAT dedicated for pakistan(parked at an altitude of some 1000km) to monitor every nook and corner with a vectoring camera/radar.

I'm not a space expert but I don't quite understand what you are asking exactly. "Stationary" in space is a relative term and your question seems to elude that you don't really understand the nuances.

To answer you first question, yes. I think you are talking about the Geostationary Earth Orbit. To answer your second question, the basic principle is the higher the orbit the greater the orbital period and the lower the orbital velocity (since orbital velocity squared is inversely proportional to the altitude). So at 1000 kms you would typically have a smaller orbital period (time taken to complete one rotation) and higher "orbital" velocity than at Geostationary Earth Orbit. Thus you could achieve a "forced geosynchronous orbit" by firing some kind of thrusters to both reduce your angular velocity drastically while maintaining the same altitude (and prevent re-entry). This is how surveillance satellites maneuver to observe specific locations. Theoretically this can be done indefinitely by some form of Solar sail or with a ground-tether but practically this has never been accomplished.

negi · Post by **negi** » 09 Feb 2010 22:39

Flight-testing of cryogenic stage of GSLV in April

TAMBARAM: Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K. Radhakrishnan on Monday said the flight- testing of the indigenous cryogenic stage of the GSLV D3 would be conducted in April.

The vehicle would carry GAST-4, a communication satellite, he told reporters after receiving an honorary degree of Doctor of Science during the 5th convocation at the SRM University in Kattankulathur.

“Though we had several GSLV flights, we were using the Russian cryogenic stages,” he said. As far as cryogenic engine and stages were concerned, ISRO had tested engines for 7,500 seconds.

“We have qualified the stage. The entire stage was filled and fired for its entire duration of 720 seconds at [the Liquid Propulsion Centre in] Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu and it was very successful,” Dr. Radhakrishnan said.

Sridhar · Post by **Sridhar** » 09 Feb 2010 22:41

Is TES still operational? I thought that it has cmpleted it's operational life.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 09 Feb 2010 23:15

Link

India is set to develop a dedicated network-centric communication intelligence satellite for detecting conversations and espionage activities in the region, a top defence scientist said on Tuesday.

“We are in the process of designing and developing a spacecraft fitted with an intelligent sensor that will pick up conversations and communications across the borders,” Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) director G. Bhoopathy told reporters here.

The Rs.100 crore satellite will be developed in partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and launched in the lower earth orbit — about 500 km above the earth — on board the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, about 80 km north-east of Chennai....

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Feb 2010 23:17

i think one needs to park sats in around 8 longitudial orbital planes to guarantee at any given
time a particular spot is in viewing range of atleast one such orbit. but in each orbit again multiple sats perhaps 7-10 are needed at equidistant spacing to ensure atleast one sat is able to look at
object at that time.

iirc thats how the motorola iridium 66 sats thing came long.

this is obviously well beyond the means of even sher khan at height of cold war given the cost
of large IMINT sats with lots of orbit change fuel (size of a volvo bus).

so people settle for maybe a few orbits and a couple birds in each perhaps (polar orbit)

jaladipc · Post by **jaladipc** » 09 Feb 2010 23:31

Brando wrote:
jaladipc wrote:Is it possible to have a sat in stationary orbit for extended periods of time without burning fuel?

Lets say we want to keep and eye on porki land for example,and launch a RISAT/CARTOSAT dedicated for pakistan(parked at an altitude of some 1000km) to monitor every nook and corner with a vectoring camera/radar.
I'm not a space expert but I don't quite understand what you are asking exactly. "Stationary" in space is a relative term and your question seems to elude that you don't really understand the nuances.

To answer you first question, yes. I think you are talking about the Geostationary Earth Orbit. To answer your second question, the basic principle is the higher the orbit the greater the orbital period and the lower the orbital velocity (since orbital velocity squared is inversely proportional to the altitude). So at 1000 kms you would typically have a smaller orbital period (time taken to complete one rotation) and higher "orbital" velocity than at Geostationary Earth Orbit. Thus you could achieve a "forced geosynchronous orbit" by firing some kind of thrusters to both reduce your angular velocity drastically while maintaining the same altitude (and prevent re-entry). This is how surveillance satellites maneuver to observe specific locations. Theoretically this can be done indefinitely by some form of Solar sail or with a ground-tether but practically this has never been accomplished.

since I am not an orbital expert,I discount my altitude corrections.
In any technical term,and that too regarding sats? stationary means its relative to a point on the earth.
While all orbits have their own velocities depending on their perigee/apogee whatever........,stationary orbits theoritically offer 0 orbital velocity9 in a sense that the body in that orbit moves with the same angular velocity relative to the spin of earth hence providing a stationary point of view to a point on the ground.

I think I made myself clear with stationary orbits.Now wondering which orbits provide same orbital velocity relative to the spin of earth?

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 10 Feb 2010 00:46

jaladipc wrote:since I am not an orbital expert,I discount my altitude corrections.
In any technical term,and that too regarding sats? stationary means its relative to a point on the earth.
While all orbits have their own velocities depending on their perigee/apogee whatever........,stationary orbits theoritically offer 0 orbital velocity9 in a sense that the body in that orbit moves with the same angular velocity relative to the spin of earth hence providing a stationary point of view to a point on the ground.

I think I made myself clear with stationary orbits.Now wondering which orbits provide same orbital velocity relative to the spin of earth?

There is only one orbit that provides same orbital velocity relative to spin of the earth -- that is the geostationary orbit, about 36,000 Kms above the earth. Also note that *being* in geostationary orbit does not guarantee that the satellite will be stationary wrt to the earth. The orbital inclination should be 0 degrees. Else the satellite will draw a "8" in the sky (over the same place though).

Shalav · Post by **Shalav** » 10 Feb 2010 01:19

Guru,

Polar orbits are the most efficient way to cover the most ground. While the satellite orbits the globe N->S direction, while the globe itself rotates under the satellite W->E - hence the sinusoidal ground track one sees in control rooms. This is also the most efficient means to move a satellite from its current orbit to another one in case one wants to image some other ground object.

Slow down the satellite and it goes into a lower orbit and changes it ground track, speed it up and it rises to a higher orbit and changes its ground track at the same time. The control room decides what to do based on their priorities and satellite conditions.

See the middle of this page for typical ground tracks.

You are right though, multiple satellites would be needed to provide 24hr coverage of the same spot at any given time.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 10 Feb 2010 03:31

Chandrayaan’s M3 discovers new lunar rock type

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 10 Feb 2010 16:38

ISRO to launch Defence Satellite: Scientist
http://www.sahilonline.org/english/news ... 4&viewed=0

Bangalore: Indian Defence Research Agencies, including DRDO were working out to develop a Communication Intelligence Satellite, module, for Indian Arm Forces for Surveillance in its borders, Dr U K Revankar, Director Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), said here today.

Speaking to newsmen Dr Revankar said that the Communication Satellite 'Comtel' would be launched by Indian Space Agency, ISRO in the next four to five years.

He said the Satellite module, which would be developed in co-ordination with the all the Indian Defence Research Agencies including DRDO would serve Indian Arm Forces to gather Intelligence captivities in the International border.
He said that the proposed Satellite would be place din the skies with the Low Orbit distance of about 500 KM would not only intercept communication but also pick up Radar based signature.

negi · Post by **negi** » 10 Feb 2010 22:40

For those interested in Jingogiri.

This page has almost complete info on all of the ISRO's launch vehicles.

India's space launch vehicles

rakall · Post by **rakall** » 11 Feb 2010 09:54

negi wrote:For those interested in Jingogiri.

This page has almost complete info on all of the ISRO's launch vehicles.

India's space launch vehicles

Great find..

Lot of technical details without any jingogiri..

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 11 Feb 2010 10:51

On the topic of the "satellite killer" mentioned a few pages back, can the MKI not be outfitted for such a purpose in the way the US has done with the F-15?

Pratik_S · Post by **Pratik_S** » 22 Feb 2010 15:04

GLONASS

Any news about GLONASS ??? India was supposed to launch 2 sats for this purpose but so far it hasn't. Can anyone enlight me on this topic????

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 22 Feb 2010 20:36

Yes, and it would also be nice to know what specifically is holding up the launch of the GSLV Mark-2, with GSAT-4. Did they find an unforeseen difficulty with the cryogenic engine/stage?

KrishG · Post by **KrishG** » 22 Feb 2010 20:38

Varoon Shekhar wrote:Yes, and it would also be nice to know what specifically is holding up the launch of the GSLV Mark-2, with GSAT-4. Did they find an unforeseen difficulty with the cryogenic engine/stage?

Cryogenic stage and the payload itself.

Shankar · Post by **Shankar** » 22 Feb 2010 21:39

Yes, and it would also be nice to know what specifically is holding up the launch of the GSLV Mark-2, with GSAT-4. Did they find an unforeseen difficulty with the cryogenic engine/stage?

no problem with cryogenic engine -it has been qualified fully -some additional tests/procedures before launch - it will go in April as of now

Pulikeshi · Post by **Pulikeshi** » 22 Feb 2010 23:27

harbans wrote:^^ Vyomagami sounds cool. Better than Vyomanaut or gaganaut.

Since ISRO has ANTRIX corp. Why not use it to better the brand?

Antrixyatri - One who is space traveler (No artificial "naut", gender neutral and simple!)

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 23 Feb 2010 00:17

"no problem with cryogenic engine -it has been qualified fully -some additional tests/procedures before launch - it will go in April as of now"

That's great! really looking forward to it( as are so many others!) and keeping fingers crossed. Since Insat-3d is also scheduled for launch this year, it means we can look forward to two launches of the GSLV Mark 2.

Just hope there is no sacrifice of payload; the Tauvex should be on board the GSAT-4. Both the Indians and Israelis are evidently waiting with bated breath for this to go up.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Feb 2010 18:16

First flight-testing of GSLV Mk-III in April

The first flight testing of GSLV MK-III rocket, which will put heavier satellites in space, is likely to be carried out in April, the ISRO said on Wednesday.

ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan said scientists are working hard in developing the satellite and expressed hope that its first flight testing would take place in April.

Looks like wrong reporting.

KrishG · Post by **KrishG** » 25 Feb 2010 20:42

Indian Moon Rockets: First Look

The monster launch vehicles proposed for the Indian Lunar Manned mission. Capability: 25 tons and 84 tons to LEO respectively.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 25 Feb 2010 21:44

SSridhar wrote:First flight-testing of GSLV Mk-III in April
.........
Looks like wrong reporting.

they mean MkII I think.

Shalav · Post by **Shalav** » 25 Feb 2010 23:05

Pulikeshi wrote: Since ISRO has ANTRIX corp. Why not use it to better the brand?

The tubelight just chamkofied!

Nice play on lettering with ANTRIX - antrixyatri sounds just right.