Indian Space Program Discussion

PratikDas · Post by **PratikDas** » 30 Jan 2012 11:28

[list=1]
[*]Go to the shops
[*]Buy a new computer
[*]Swear at computer when it crashes
[/list]

Ramachandran Viswanathan,7700 MARBURY ROAD, BETHESDA, MD, 20817, , UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,Director,25/06/2005
RAJENDRA SINGH,23 INDIAN CREEK ISLAND ROAD, INDIAN CREEK VILLAGE, NA, 33154, , UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,Director,19/05/2006
ARUN KUMAR GUPTA,7432, OLD MAPLE SQUARE, MCLEAN, VA, 022102, , UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,Director,19/05/2006
CHANDRASEKHAR GANGARUDRAIAH MUTHUGADAHALLI,284/C, 40TH CROSS, 9-A MAIN, 5TH BLOCK, JAYANAGAR, BANGALORE, 560041, Karnataka, INDIA,Director 25/06/2005
VENUGOPAL DESARAJU,G-02, NO.26 9TH CROSS, 4TH MAIN, PALASHA APARTMENTS, MALLESWARAM, BANGALORE, 560003, Karnataka, INDIA,Director,01/04/2008
LAWRENCE THOMAS BABBIO JUNIOR,720 PARK AVE 16A, NEW YORK, 10021, , UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,Director,26/09/2007
GARY MICHAEL PARSONS,11009 STANMORE DR, POTOMAC M, MD, 20854, , UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,Director,26/09/2007
SHYAM NARAIN TANDON,C-2, NIRALANAGAR, LUCKNOW, 226020, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA,Director,01/04/2008
VADIRAJ RAGHAVENDRA KATTI,No.603, 9th A Main, 14th Cross, ISRO Layout, Bangalore, 560078, Karnataka, INDIA,Nominee director,01/04/2008
NATARAJ DAKSHINAMURTHY,Jade 202, Esteem Heritage Apts., Rose Garden Road, Behind Dollars Colony, J P Nagar 5th Phase, Bangalore, 560078, Karnataka, INDIA Director,09/02/2011
ANIL ANANT BOKIL,496, 9TH MAIN, ISRO LAYOUT, 12TH CROSS, BANGALORE, 560078, Karnataka, INDIA,Nominee director,28/02/2011
Kevin Donald Copp,Koernerstr. 5e, Bonn, 53173, , GERMANY,Nominee director,18/08/2008
Neeraj Sharma,M-11, Greater kailash, Part-I, New Delhi, 110048, Delhi, INDIA,Director,09/02/2011
Sajal Kumar Roy Choudhuri,8, FL 24, Anil Moitra Road, Gariahat, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, INDIA,Nominee director,01/05/2011
VINOD SUNDER R,488, 9TH MAIN, 6TH CROSS, II BLOCK, I STAGE, HBR LAYOUT, BANGALORE, 560043, Karnataka, INDIA,Secretary,01/04/2008

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 31 Jan 2012 00:18

Is it ok to publish such personal information in this website. Interested people could share it via mail or so, the names of the principals are on the Devas website itself.

added later:

http://www.devasmedia.com/

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 31 Jan 2012 00:29

Website URL please?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 31 Jan 2012 00:34

Bade wrote:Is it ok to publish such personal information in this website. Interested people could share it via mail or so, the names of the principals are on the Devas website itself.

Bade, The four former ISO officials are getting thrown under the bus and you worry about the names of the entitiy they are supposed to be working with! Was any suggestion or impropriety on part of those 15 people suggested?
Any similar concern for those four ISRO officials?

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 31 Jan 2012 00:50

My only objection was home addresses being listed. I have no issue with naming them in a list.

PratikDas · Post by **PratikDas** » 31 Jan 2012 08:10

All innocent unless proven guilty and I think it goes without saying that no one is advocating any form of violence.

mikehurst · Post by **mikehurst** » 31 Jan 2012 08:53

Bade wrote:My only objection was home addresses being listed. I have no issue with naming them in a list.

All info part of publicly available data, from relevant government databases. Will try to obtain the shareholder details too.

- Mike.

mikehurst · Post by **mikehurst** » 31 Jan 2012 09:28

Okay, so this is interesting.

Now out of the 14 directors, Ramachandran Viswanathan, Rajendra Singh, Arun Kumar Gupta are also directors in common for the following companies:
1. Devas Multimedia Private Limited;
2. Bhoovahana Technologies Private Limited;
3. DCT Telecommunications Private Limited;
4. DCT Networks Private Limited;

Chandrasekhar Gangarudraiah Muthugadahalli in addition to being on the board of director for the above companies is also a director for Advanced Space Technologies and Services Private Limited.

Further Venugopal Desaraju, Nataraj Dakshinamurthy and Anil Anant Bokil are all directors in common for Advanced Space Technologies and Services Private Limited.
Mr. Neeraj Sharma is on the board of Modi Rubber.

The poor firangs are not connected to any other Indian registered companies. Now it is my firm belief, that we can always find a fault, if we look for it, but the above arrangement, does look interesting, from an explanation point of view if not from any purpoted wrongdoing POV.

- Mike.

P.S: Again, would like to say, sourced from publicly available source, if only one knows to look where.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 31 Jan 2012 23:21

They have any expertise in wireless/satellite based telecom?

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 02 Feb 2012 06:25

X-post

Why Does India Need An Aerospace Command? – Analysis
Eurasia Review

mikehurst · Post by **mikehurst** » 02 Feb 2012 09:28

ramana wrote:They have any expertise in wireless/satellite based telecom?

Ramana, am not sure what is the personal background of the above listed individuals or even their personal antecedents. The database i am mining for info, just lists the details that the company has released per relevant laws. However, now that we have got the information, it would be possible to get the info on these gentlemen, through LinkedIn and similar sites.

However, i suggest, that we look at the companies and the shareholder first. Finally got hold of the latest balance sheet and profit loss account of the company for 2010-11 along with a list of shareholders. Will try to put the info and my opinion if anyone is still interested in this amateur investigative journalist's effort

.

On the first glance, it is a typical offshore holding company model, with multiple classes of shares, and shareholders being shell companies incorporated and based in Mauritius. Let me know if the raw data is required, will mail it to you if necessary or post it on the forum.

- Mike.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 02 Feb 2012 22:10

No keep ii for yourself and work on a expose. Give only the opinion.

I think its benami foreign owner company to penetrate Indian national security priority market.
If you could find out all this then, was RAW and IB clearance obtained for them to doi businees in India?

Its an intelligence case at the root and not just fraud.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 03 Feb 2012 04:34

Tarmak has added a bunch of interesting blog posts. Pasting one regarding RISAT-1: http://www.tarmak007.blogspot.com/2012/ ... risat.html

Fantastic news - good luck and god speed!

Couple of poochs:

a) Why is the weight of RISAT-1 about 6 times that of RISAT-2. Interestingly, the wattage requirement of RISAT-1 is about 6 times that of TecSAR as well. Has it got to do with the C-band versus X-band radar? Or is it that Israel is far ahead in miniaturization

b) Any advantages/disadvantages of C versus X band? I get the feeling that we went for a C-band radar satellite because the INSAT/GSAT series uses C-band and so, we have experience and commonality. I'd assume a X band would offer finer resolution but dont know if its a function of the frequency or the sensitivity of the transmit-receive modules.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 03 Feb 2012 05:03

I was told C band is weather impervious and not subject to interruption by rain etc.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 03 Feb 2012 05:06

Something interesting that I noticed. Not sure if the dots connect to something bigger:

a)

In January 2010 press reports indicated the imminent launch of the Ofeq 8, but these reports failed to materialize. Few months later, press reports in India indicated an Israeli satellite was hastily removed from the Indian GSLV-D3 satellite launcher, days before the planned launch. Eventually, on April 16, the launcher failed to carry an Indian communications satellite into orbit.

from http://www.defense-update.com/newscast/ ... 62010.html

b)

Glitch in INSAT 4B
On July 7, 2010, ISRO has reported a glitch in the operation of INSAT 4B. Power was not flowing from one of the solar panels to the satellite bus from July 7 night, which led to switching off 50 per cent of the transponders on board the satellite. ISRO engineers said the glitch could have developed because a relay that transferred power from the solar panel to the satellite bus could have “misbehaved” or the wires connecting the panel to the satellite could have snapped.[9]
China-Stuxnet Connection
American cyber warfare expert Jeffrey Carr, who specialises in investigations of cyber attacks against government, mentioned in his interview with The Times of India, that the reason for this power glitch may have been an infection by the sophisticated Stuxnet worm.[10]

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insat

c)

First flight test of the ISRO designed and built Cryogenic Upper Stage. Failed to reach orbit due to malfunction of Fuel Booster Turbo Pump (FBTP) of the Cryogenic Upper Stage.[17]

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosynchro ... ch_history

In April 2010, Israel's satellite was pulled from GSLV-D3 (weird that a GSLV would be used for the LEO satellite. Possible mistake in the report - it might have been the PSLV-C15 that was launched on July 12, 2010).
On April 15, GSLV D3 launch fails. Could this be Stuxnet too?
In July 2010, INSAT 4B suffers from a power glitch. Rumors of a Stuxnet connection - the worm itself being rumored to be of either Israeli or Chinese origin.
Thankfully, on July 12, PSLV-C15 launch is fine. It caries Cartosat-2B

Also of note is the fact that Stuxnet works by randomly accelerating/decelerating the rotational speeds of high frequency motors (like centrifuges), which was what setback the Iranian program. GSLV D3's failure was because of Fuel Booster Turbo Pump, which is a high RPM equipment.

Did the Israelis know/suspect something that they didnt tell us? Am I reading too much into this?

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 03 Feb 2012 05:07

ramana wrote:I was told C band is weather impervious and not subject to interruption by rain etc.

Thanks - that makes sense, given that we dont want TV programs via INSAT to stop because of the monsoons. Is X band not impervious?

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 03 Feb 2012 09:22

Prem Kumar wrote: Am I reading too much into this?

Without any definite information, you may well be.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 05 Feb 2012 09:29

Madhavan Nair, three others behind Antrix-Devas deal: ISRO report

vic · Post by **vic** » 05 Feb 2012 16:33

Prem Kumar wrote:Tarmak has added a bunch of interesting blog posts. Pasting one regarding RISAT-1: http://www.tarmak007.blogspot.com/2012/ ... risat.html

Fantastic news - good luck and god speed!

Couple of poochs:

a) Why is the weight of RISAT-1 about 6 times that of RISAT-2. Interestingly, the wattage requirement of RISAT-1 is about 6 times that of TecSAR as well. Has it got to do with the C-band versus X-band radar? Or is it that Israel is far ahead in miniaturization

b) Any advantages/disadvantages of C versus X band? I get the feeling that we went for a C-band radar satellite because the INSAT/GSAT series uses C-band and so, we have experience and commonality. I'd assume a X band would offer finer resolution but dont know if its a function of the frequency or the sensitivity of the transmit-receive modules.

My guess would be RISAT-1 is AESA radar and was an overreach, which delayed the project for some time. Israeli sat is conventional radar as well as benefits from Israeli lighter electronics. Satellites launched by PSLV are getting lighter, which seems like Israeli help/input.

PratikDas · Post by **PratikDas** » 06 Feb 2012 02:19

vic wrote:My guess would be RISAT-1 is AESA radar and was an overreach, which delayed the project for some time. Israeli sat is conventional radar as well as benefits from Israeli lighter electronics. Satellites launched by PSLV are getting lighter, which seems like Israeli help/input.

That would be a good guess as the Tarmak007 article states:

“The SAR, being an active radar sensor, operating in the microwave region of electromagnetic spectrum, has the unique capability of imaging in all weather conditions. The SAR payload is based on an active phased array technology using transmit/receive (TR) modules, which would provide necessary electronic agility for achieving the multi-mode capability, providing spatial resolutions of one m to 50 m, and a swath of 10 to 240 km catering to multiple applications,” said an aide along with Radhakrishnan, who preferred not to be quoted.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 07 Feb 2012 07:58

Some rules were broken, says Nair

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Feb 2012 12:06

Former ISRO chief G. Madhavan Nair sold spectrum to Devas Multimedia at dirt-cheap rate

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 08 Feb 2012 02:36

‘Collusion’ hint in Devas share pattern

The panels have noted that Devas was established in December 2004 by US-based Forge Advisors with a share capital of Rs 1 lakh, and two shareholders — Venugopal D, a former Isro scientist, who had 9,000 shares and Umesh M, who had 1,000 shares, indicating a face value of Rs 10 per share.
{Venugopal has 90% of the equity and Umesh 10%}

The Antrix-Devas agreement was signed in January 2005, and by December of that year the ordinary share capital had increased to over Rs 5 lakh, with 12 shareholders, including three members of the team that had made presentations to Isro and two Mauritius-based entities.

By March 2010, Devas had 17 shareholders, including Deutsche Telecom, holding 20 per cent, the two Mauritius-based entities, holding 17 per cent each, and M.G. Chandrasekhar, another ex-Isro scientist, holding 19 per cent, with the largest holdings among other shareholders.

In 2007-08, Venugopal and the team divested part of their original shareholdings to the Mauritius-based entities and stood to earn a profit ranging from Rs 2 crore to Rs 7.4 crore each on the shares divested.

For Devas, a company with no asset base and no intellectual property or patent in the relevant technology, and making losses since its inception, to collect Rs 578 crore as share premium from foreign investors “appears to be unusual and can only be attributed to the agreement that it had with Antrix”, the panel chaired by former chief vigilance commissioner Pratyush Sinha observed in the report released by Isro on Saturday.

The other panel, with aerospace scientist Roddam Narasimha and former cabinet secretary B.K. Chaturvedi as members, has remarked that the original proposal envisaging development and innovation by former Isro scientists seems to have been diluted through these changes.

The entry of the foreign telecom companies with huge premiums indicated that they had “used this as an opportunity” to enter the Indian telecom market, the Chaturvedi-Narasimha panel said. “This was not an intended purpose of the original agreement.”

“There have been not only serious administrative and procedural lapses, but also (a) suggestion of collusive behaviour on the part of certain individuals,” the panel chaired by Sinha noted in its report.

The panel had recommended that an appropriate investigative agency should look into the extent to which the increase in share value has been encashed by the individuals, the shareholding pattern of the company and of the Mauritius-based entities.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 08 Feb 2012 04:00

Bade looks like a good thing became a scam when there was no over sight. I highlighted the time line and the causes.

Looks like the Devas promoters got an exclusive arrangement with ISRO for the specturm and sold it to others. Its a replica of the 2G scam.

Who are the Mauritius based enitites? They first make an appearance in Dec 2005 after the deal is signed in jan 2005.

I suspect their owners are probably INC back room boys.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 08 Feb 2012 04:03

Legislative elections were held in India in four phases between April 20 and May 10, 2004.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 08 Feb 2012 20:52

Devas deal cancelled for national security

The central government cancelled the Antrix Corporation-Devas Multimedia deal for reasons of national security and not for purported loss of revenue in sale of spectrum, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy has said.

A committee comprising B.K. Chaturvedi and Roddam Narasimha that went into the controversial deal has ruled out cheap selling of spectrum by Antrix to Bangalore-based Devas.

"Concerns of cheap selling of spectrum to Devas have no basis whatsoever. Space spectrum is not comparable to terrestrial spectrum. Devas was also required to obtain licences from Department of Telecommunications, Department of Information Broadcasting for providing services to customers and would have to pay, apart from transponder leasing charges, other charges which would be determined by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) based on consultation mechanism," the committee declared.

Portions of the report were made public Saturday night by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Some portions of the Chaturvedi-Narasimha panel have been withheld under Section 8 (1) (a) of Right to Information Act 2005.

As per the deal, Antrix was to provide 70 MHz S-Band spectrum to Devas, which is into multimedia services. Antrix would provide the spectrum by leasing out transponders of two satellites to be built mainly for Devas.

The CAG estimated the loss to the exchequer to the tune of Rs.2 lakh crore because of the deal. The centre later scrapped the controversial deal.

Indian space agency ISRO Saturday also made public only the conclusions and recommendations of a report by a five-member panel led by former Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) Pratyush Sinha.

On the basis of the Sinha panel's recommendations, the government Jan 13 debarred the four space scientists from holding any government post or being on an any official committees. The four are former ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair; A. Bhaskaranarayana, former scientific secretary at ISRO; K.R. Sridharamurthi, former executive director of Antrix, the commercial arm of ISRO; and K.N. Shankara, former director of the ISRO satellite centre.

The committee also recommended actions under pension rules against retired officials S.S. Meenakshisundaram and Veena Rao, and against G. Balachandran and R.G. Nadadur under the relevant service rules.

A view has gained ground that a witch hunt is on against the four retired space scientists.

Asked about this, Narayanasamy said: "The government is not discriminating between retired space scientists and serving IAS officials. We will take action against the serving officers based on their culpability in the whole issue. Action will be taken in stages after studying in detail."

However, he declined to reveal the reasons for making public only selective portions of the two reports.

A top source said portions of the report that have been withheld consist of cabinet notes and others dealing with internal security which is not for the public.

ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan told reporters in Bangalore Monday: "Whatever I have to say is up in the report. I have nothing more to say. There is nothing personal in this."

Refuting Nair's charge that he was not given an opportunity to be heard by the Sinha panel, Narayanasamy said: "The committee report clearly states that Nair had met Sinha apart from submitting his views in writing. Other people had given their views in writing to the panel."

He also did not agree with the general view that ISRO's activities have slowed down over the past two years.

"It is a wrong impression. I myself have witnessed two successful rocket launches. The failure of two GSLV (geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle) launches is owing to problems in the rocket's cryogenic engine," Narayanasamy said.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 08 Feb 2012 20:57

Another viewpoint on this from Mr Nair himself.

Ex-ISRO chief slams Antrix-Devas probe

Expressing surprise at the odd timing (late Saturday) of releasing the probe reports on the official websites of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the space department, Nair said a quick look at the salient points and conclusions arrived at clearly shows that the inquiry was not based on factual information and many things have been considered out of context.

"For instance, issues related to launch of satellites, leasing of transponders and spectrum pricing mechanism have not been dealt as per the rules and regulations," Nair said.

The probe reports have held Nair and three other space scientists responsible for serious irregularities and procedural lapses in signing the $300-million contract in 2005 to allot 70MHz of the scarce S-band spectrum (radio waves) to the Bangalore-based Devas Multimedia Services Ltd for digital services using ISRO's transponders.

On the recommendation of the Sinha committee, Nair said the panel had made the recommendations with little knowledge of space business.

"A committee headed by a former IPS (Indian Police Service) officer does not understand space business. Its conclusions are distorted. Its report too should have been released in full to ascertain the basis of its recommendations for action against us," Nair retorted.

Clarifying that the deal was not to solely benefit Devas, Nair said the contract was to ensure a decent return to the government even at the risk of using new technology at a time when India was still under the sanctions regime.

"When the deal was signed (in 2005), we were still under the embargo of the US and other western nations for the Pokhran-II nuclear test in May 1999. Only Devas came forward to provide a host of digital multimedia services using space-based radio waves. The government was also in favour of using space assets for the benefit of the country," Nair observed.

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 09 Feb 2012 13:25

Pardon my intrusion.. but all this discussion about the individuals and the Devas deal relevant to the topic of the thread “Indian Space Program Discussion” ?

It is not a political/commercial/bureaucratic matter than something related to the space program itself ? JMT

KrishG · Post by **KrishG** » 09 Feb 2012 14:06

Kailash wrote:Pardon my intrusion.. but all this discussion about the individuals and the Devas deal relevant to the topic of the thread “Indian Space Program Discussion” ?

It is not a political/commercial/bureaucratic matter than something related to the space program itself ? JMT

Totally agree. The discussion has no place here and should be continued in some other thread.

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 10 Feb 2012 12:30

There is a Rs 84 L blemish on Isro’s Chandrayaan-I

Isro had set up its deep space network (DSN) to track lunar probe Chandrayaan-I at Byalalu, a remote hamlet 35 km from its headquarters in Bangalore. The lunar probe was launched in 2008, but the space agency has not yet paid the Rs 84 lakh compensation to the man whose three-acre plot was acquired for the DSN.

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 11 Feb 2012 23:25

I am not Economist or good in financial understandings.

Just quoting a reply in Parliament and Devas document on GSAT6.

http://www.isro.org/parliament/2011/Budget/LUSQ3430.pdf
http://www.devasmedia.com/?page_id=264

A rough calculation is done:

Cost of 36MHz Transponder for one year = about Rs. 450L

GSAT available BW = 2.5-2.69 GHz = 190 MHz = 5 Transponders approx

60% capacity used by DEVAS = 114 MHz

Its cost for 1 year = 114*450/36 Lakhs = 1425 Lakhs = say 14 Crores/annum

Average life of satellite = 7 years

Possible Earnings for 7 years = about 100 Crores for 114 MHz BW.

========
Quoting from

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Ex_IS ... e_999.html

ISRO charged dirt cheap rate of $ 300 million for 70 MHz bandwidth ( that amounts to = 1500 crore Rs for 70 MHz BW

Is it Dirt Cheap??

negi · Post by **negi** » 12 Feb 2012 01:28

^ I do not think the usual profit/loss formula is at work here; the central issue imho is the process involved in selling the said spectrum. See if you calculate the price at which 2G spectrum was auctioned the GoI made a huge profit then too however the argument is how much more could have been made if the auction was carried out in an open and fair manner.

I for one haven't followed the ISRO's case so as of now haven't taken a side, yet.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 12 Feb 2012 04:27

'Hang me for so-called omission... but let them go through democratic process': Madhavan Nair

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 12 Feb 2012 22:30

negi wrote:^ I do not think the usual profit/loss formula is at work here; the central issue imho is the process involved in selling the said spectrum. See if you calculate the price at which 2G spectrum was auctioned the GoI made a huge profit then too however the argument is how much more could have been made if the auction was carried out in an open and fair manner.

I for one haven't followed the ISRO's case so as of now haven't taken a side, yet.

As also to note that how efficient Govt. processes halted the deal before it became operational. No satellite, no transponders, no profits. Only inquiries. Unlike 2G scam where the loss, per the then Law Minister, could be on paper only by theory & zero as a possible concrete figure.

karan_mc · Post by **karan_mc** » 13 Feb 2012 17:10

Debel to develop Space suits for Indian vyomanauts (astronauts)

Altair · Post by **Altair** » 13 Feb 2012 18:00

negi wrote:^ I do not think the usual profit/loss formula is at work here; the central issue imho is the process involved in selling the said spectrum. See if you calculate the price at which 2G spectrum was auctioned the GoI made a huge profit then too however the argument is how much more could have been made if the auction was carried out in an open and fair manner.

I for one haven't followed the ISRO's case so as of now haven't taken a side, yet.

A foreign power wants to have tab on Indian Space Program and its Financial dealings, hence scene is being modified for more Babu and Government involvement in the future.

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 14 Feb 2012 11:51

India Hungry to Develop Hi-Tech Aerospace Expertise

abhishek-nayak · Post by **abhishek-nayak** » 14 Feb 2012 18:12

Bangalore lab to suit up Indian vyomanauts

Two life science laboratories of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) will be providing food and clothing for the vyomanauts (Indian astronauts will be called so) during the country’s first human space mission — estimated to be a Rs10,000 crore mission — that is awaiting green signal from the Centre.

While the Mysore-based Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) will dish out ready-to-eat food in space, the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (Debel) (both under DRDO) will design and produce the space suits for the first vyomanauts of India.

“DFRL already has the experience of providing food for space-bound men when it readied a menu for cosmonaut Wg Cdr Rakesh Sharma for the Indo-Soviet Manned space flight in 1984. This time too we would be working with Isro,” DRDO, chief controller, Research and Development (Life Sciences and International Corporation), Dr W Selvamurthy told DNA. He said Bangalore-based Debel, which has already developed Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) protection suits, flight clothing and protective equipment for air crew, has been assigned to develop the highly complex space suits.

“This will be the first time that space suits will be developed in India and Debel has already started work on it,” he said. The suits are worn both inside and outside the spacecraft. During the mission, the spacecraft would go around Earth 16 times and the astronauts would be exposed to varying temperatures from sub-zero to 60-plus degrees Celsius.The suits will have to protect the astronauts from the harsh space weather, especially the intense radiation which cut short India’sfirst unmanned mission to Moon, Chandrayaan-1, when it fried the satellite’s electronic equipment.

India’s first human space mission, expected to be launched in 2015-16, envisages the development of a fully autonomous orbital vehicle carrying two members to about 300-km low earth orbit and return to earth after a week.

The human space flight mission is looking at three options: one, to send an Indian crew onboard a foreign module; two, to have an Indian crew module with a launcher from abroad; and three, to develop a fully autonomous orbital vehicle which can carry the Indian crew members.

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/repor ... ts_1649462

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 17 Feb 2012 13:17

India planning Venus mission

An Indian scientific mission to Venus is being considered by the space community. This was announced by M S Anurup of Isro at the 17th National Space Science Symposium which has been jointly organised by Isro and Sri Venkateshwara University.

According to Anurup, a preliminary study had indicated that if this mission gets the go ahead and depending upon the orbital parameters, it could be launched on May 20, 2015 arriving in Venus in October 2015. There could be about five scientific instruments on board the Venus-bound spacecraft. The rocket could either be the advanced version of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL) or the Geo Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) or the newer version of the GSLV designated as GSLV Mark3.The preliminary study states that the main role of the Indian mission to Venus would be to study its atmosphere. It will also help to examine the origin and evolution of terrestrial planets.

The report has expressed confidence that based on the success of the Chandrayaan-1 mission, India has the capability to launch a mission to Venus. In addition, with the launch of Risat-1 satellite next month, India will possess a radar imaging capability which will be necessary for the Venus mission. In another recent development, scientists of the Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) have reported the existence of a cavity on Mars for the first time measuring 500 metres by 100 metres.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 17 Feb 2012 21:41

Scientists are demoralised. I am hurt

Gopalan Madhavan Nair's interview with India Today

Gopalan Madhavan Nair, 68, India's "Moon Man", was, until yesterday, one of the country's most respected and decorated scientists. Today, the former chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and architect of India's Chandrayaan-1 moon mission has been blacklisted by the Ministry of Space, which issued a confidential circular on January 12 barring him and three other space scientists from holding any government posts. Reason: the controversial deal struck in January 2005 between ISRO's commercial arm Antrix Corporation and private firm Devas Multimedia. Antrix was to lease to Devas 90 per cent capacity of S-band spectrum frequency on GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A, the two satellites ISRO would build. Nair was Antrix's chairman and the others were members of its governing board when the deal was inked. The revenue from the deal to Antrix was $300 million, payable over a 12-year period. In 2009, complaints arose about the deal and a preliminary estimate by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) suggested the spectrum allotted to Devas could be worth Rs.2 lakh crore as against the $300 million (Rs.1,500 crore) deal. Subsequently, three inquiries were held and though none of the reports have yet been made public, the Cabinet Committee on Security annulled the deal on February 11, 2011. Nair tells Associate Editor M.G. Radhakrishnan that he wants the Prime Minister to intervene.

Q. Do you think you are being wrongly targeted?

A. We have done nothing wrong. Let the Government conduct a proper inquiry. But what has happened is that a director at the ministry, who is not even in charge of projects like these, issued a secret circular tarnishing us even before we were told what wrong we have done. The correct procedure should have been to submit a report to a competent authority, who is the Prime Minister in this case. And if he finds that there are lapses, a proper chargesheet should be prepared. What has been done is a blatant violation of procedures.

Q. Who are the people working against you?

A. There could be people from both inside and outside the country.

Q. Outside the country?

A. Maybe. You know about vested global interests who had cooked up the isro espionage scandal and set back our space programme by several years. Scrapping this project will mean India will be deprived of a much advanced technology in mobile communications. Devas would have brought it to India at a reduced cost and much faster than what would have been possible without them. The technology would have revolutionised the applicability of hand-held communication devices by making them more accessible to people even in remote areas.

Q. You have admitted to certain procedural lapses in the deal.

A. Well, we did not formally inform the Union Cabinet in writing about the finalisation of the deal. But Antrix has not been mandated to do so as the Space Commission and the Government are duly represented on the governing board. Antrix is an autonomous body which has entered into such deals before too. For instance, the deal with Tata Sky. The Government was aware of the deal right from the beginning.

Q. Why do you say that the CAG's estimate of the loss is exaggerated?

A. The CAG seems to have wrongly extrapolated the potential revenue arising from the terrestrial application of S-band frequencies. The S-band spectrum was intended for space-based applications and hence would have brought in one-fifth of possible revenue. Besides, ISRO is responsible only for fixing lease charges. Department of Telecom should have decided the licensing fees. When the deal was made there were hardly any users for the S-band. The only user was Doordarshan, which also migrated to other bands.

Q. Minister V. Narayanasamy has said that the inquiry committee had recommended action against you.

A. I don't think he even understands the issue. Both the B.N. Suresh Committee and the committee headed by B.K. Chaturvedi, former cabinet secretary, had found there was nothing wrong in the deal except minor procedural lapses. Then, another committee was appointed, which did not even care to meet us. They just sent us some questionnaires. We responded but we did not get any reply. Most members of the committee attended only the first and last meeting.

Q. You've attacked ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan for what has happened.

A. He seems to have a personal agenda in tarnishing us. We feel he has cooked up stories. I think as a non-performer, he is jealous of some of us.

Q. Would you accuse the Prime Minister's Office for the controversy?

A. I request the Prime Minister to intervene and conduct a proper inquiry.

Q. What in your opinion would be the effect of the controversy on ISRO's image globally?

A. Terrible. Devas has many prominent foreign partners and they have approached the International Court of Arbitration. ISRO's or Antrix's image of being incapable of carrying out contracts is not good for our space programme. Even the satellite that was ready to be launched in 2009 has been kept idle.

Q. What are your plans now?

A. I think the country's scientific community knows how the development has demoralised us. This is the first such experience of my life. I am deeply hurt. My initial reaction was emotional. But now, I am waiting for copies of the inquiry committee reports through rti. I will decide my future course of action later.