Indian Space Program Discussion

ManishH · Post by **ManishH** » 05 Jul 2011 15:32

Govt eases data policy for remote sensing satellites

The new policy effectively breaks the monopoly that Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had on the remote sensing sector. The policy makes it clear that now agencies other than ISRO can also be 'nodal agencies' for remote sensing.

It is clear that the immediate beneficiary will be the military, but it also leaves a door open for private agencies to own remote sensing satellites soon, if they desired.

In another dramatic change, all remote sensing imagery and data up to one meter resolution will be made freely available, a quantum jump from the past. However, release of data less than one meter in resolution will still be controlled. This would very much ease infrastructure development in urban areas - telecom, roads and housing sector could benefit greatly.

The old 2001 policy mandated that ISRO could release only data up to 5.8 meter resolution. A Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report had found that almost 80 per cent of images of ISRO were idling. All other better resolution data was strictly controlled by the government.

Will · Post by **Will** » 05 Jul 2011 15:55

Any info on the next series of ISRO launchers after GSLV-III?

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 05 Jul 2011 22:18

^^^

A very good tracking of Indian launch schedule is available here ( but only for satellites .. not for launchers )

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 07 Jul 2011 13:45

India mulls options on human space flight programme

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 08 Jul 2011 20:50

Most-powerful PSLV to launch GSAT-12 next week.

Indian Space Research Organisation is using the most powerful configuration of its rocket PSLV to launch a communication satellite from Sriharikota on July 15 as it braces for the nearly Rs 200 crore mission.

It's only for the second time ever that a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is being used to loft a communication satellite, the first one being Kalpana-1 in 2002.

Bangalore-headquartered ISRO opted for this step as there is a large unfulfilled and pressing demand for communication transponders.
Communication satellites are launched on board GSLV or ISRO goes in procured launches overseas.

"But we wanted to create (transponder) capacity at the earliest. That's why we used the PSLV for the purpose (of launching a communication satellite), and achieve whatever is possible...best possible by a PSLV with XL configuration. That's the most powerful configuration," ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan told PTI here.

The GSAT-12 "fast-track" satellite with a mass of 1410 kg, has 12 Extended C-band transponders. It is slated to be injected into space by PSLV-C17 after the launch from Sriharikota spaceport slated between 16.48 hours and 17.08 hours on July 15.

Similar PSLV, with extended strap-ons, was used for India's Chandrayaan-1 mission.

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 10 Jul 2011 15:31

^^^^

I doubt if there is any novice here in BRF in ballistics and rocketary.

However if there is any, details about what to watch in Doordarshan transmission of PSLV launch have been compiled by me here.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 10 Jul 2011 17:06

I am still confused on (I am not dhoti shivering here) the man mission to moon. Wouldn't it be better we jumpstart to robots and send them wherever we want. The khans have advanced on this, and after the last manned space mission, the new robonaut is really taking shape fast and we might have hundreds of robonauts loitering in fixing satellites to dismantling them.

Makes me think about space based robotic wars in the future.

KrishG · Post by **KrishG** » 10 Jul 2011 21:12

SaiK wrote:I am still confused on (I am not dhoti shivering here) the man mission to moon. Wouldn't it be better we jumpstart to robots and send them wherever we want. The khans have advanced on this, and after the last manned space mission, the new robonaut is really taking shape fast and we might have hundreds of robonauts loitering in fixing satellites to dismantling them.

I believe you meant the last Space shuttle flight, which by no means is the "last manned space mission". The US is continuing it's manned space flight program albeit in a different form (outsourcing LEO HSF to private corporations and focusing on BEO HSF). Human Spaceflight is here to stay atleast for the next 40 years.

marimuthu · Post by **marimuthu** » 13 Jul 2011 13:20

Vipul wrote:Most-powerful PSLV to launch GSAT-12 next week.

The GSAT-12 "fast-track" satellite with a mass of 1410 kg, has 12 Extended C-band transponders. It is slated to be injected into space by PSLV-C17 after the launch from Sriharikota spaceport slated between 16.48 hours and 17.08 hours on July 15.

Did the 52 hour countdown started?.

marimuthu · Post by **marimuthu** » 13 Jul 2011 15:30

ISRO Press Release

The Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) for PSLV-C17/GSAT-12 mission, which met on July 12, 2011 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre - SHAR, Sriharikota has cleared the launch of PSLV-C17 at 16:48 hrs (IST) on Friday, July 15, 2011.

The 53 hour countdown commenced at 11:48 hours on July 13, 2011. During the Countdown, propellant-filling operations of the liquid propellant second stage (PS2) and fourth stage (PS4) of the launch vehicle will be carried out. Mandatory checks on the launch vehicle and spacecraft including charging of batteries and pressurisation of propellant tanks will be performed. Readiness of various ground systems such as tracking radar systems and communication networks will also be checked.

PSLV-C17 will launch 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 the country.

marimuthu · Post by **marimuthu** » 13 Jul 2011 15:34

PSLV-C17 and GSAT-12 Brochure
PSLV C17-1
PSLV C17-2
PSLV C17-3
GSAT-12

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 13 Jul 2011 15:44

Do they fill propellent in the stages after assembling the launch vehicle on the gantry?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 14 Jul 2011 14:20

Shrinivasan wrote:Do they fill propellent in the stages after assembling the launch vehicle on the gantry?

Yes, the liquid & cryogenic propellant.

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 14 Jul 2011 21:28

@ Shrinivasan

2nd and 4th stages which are powered by liquid propellant are filled a few hours prior to launch. Initial fill is slow for acclimatization. Then a faster fill is done. And finally just prior to removal of filling mechanism a final purge/fill is done for the required amount.

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 15 Jul 2011 06:01

Thanks SSalvi & Sridhar, would they have enough time to run all the tests necessary after the fueling? or the test/diagnostics process is a continuous process throughout the 50+hr countdown period. My prayers are with ISRO for a successful launch.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 15 Jul 2011 07:29

GSAT-12 will only minimally offset transponder shortage

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 15 Jul 2011 08:59

SSSalvi wrote:^^^^

I doubt if there is any novice here in BRF in ballistics and rocketary.

However if there is any, details about what to watch in Doordarshan transmission of PSLV launch have been compiled by me here.

Salvi I am a novice and I have a question for you possibly OT. Is it really possible to extend the range or a ballistic missile by decreasing the payload? If so, is it trivial? Please answer in the missile thread if need be. TIA.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 15 Jul 2011 09:48

PSLV/GSAT-12 launch live on DD National at 4:15 pm today

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 15 Jul 2011 11:34

Austin wrote:PSLV/GSAT-12 launch live on DD National at 4:15 pm today

link : http://webcast.gov.in/live/

alexis · Post by **alexis** » 15 Jul 2011 16:16

launch going well

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 15 Jul 2011 16:20

Looking normal so far

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 15 Jul 2011 16:27

3rd stage separated successfully

KrishG · Post by **KrishG** » 15 Jul 2011 16:33

Satellite has separated from the upper stage!!

Kudos to ISRO!

The Geo-synchronous transfer operations should begin within a week or so

alexis · Post by **alexis** » 15 Jul 2011 16:34

successful launch

Rupesh · Post by **Rupesh** » 15 Jul 2011 16:39

Congrats ISRO...

Suresh_Shyam · Post by **Suresh_Shyam** » 15 Jul 2011 16:44

That's Fantastic...

.ISRO made a great Job!!!

. Congrats ISRO...

Rupesh · Post by **Rupesh** » 15 Jul 2011 16:47

PSLV rocket launches communications satellite

Sriharikota: Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Sriharikota have launched a new communications satellite using the smaller of their rockets, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

gakakkad · Post by **gakakkad** » 15 Jul 2011 16:47

a Small lungi dance

muktesh · Post by **muktesh** » 15 Jul 2011 16:49

Congrats!!well done ISRO

akashganga · Post by **akashganga** » 15 Jul 2011 17:06

Congratulations ISRO. You have done India proud. Hope you will master GSLV technology soon and launch GSLV missions as smoothly as you do PSLV missions. cheers.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 15 Jul 2011 17:23

India puts another satellite in space

PSLV-C17 launch has been a success," Isro chairman K Radhakrishnan said. "We have achieved an orbit just 8 km away from the one planned. In the next half an hour we will get information on the health of the satellite."

Congrats to ISRO

Can imagine that in some unmentionable forums anger and disbelief, see that SDRE is lying about sucess, it was 8KM away , what a failure onlee

. offcourse the intrecasis and distances involved, satellitte using onboard fuel to manuvere to the correct position is beyond thier intellectual capacity to be understood.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 15 Jul 2011 17:24

Gratters ISRO.Since PSLV has been a great success story,the ISRO along with other agencies and end-users should see that this successful launcher is utilised to the maximum launching the many sats that the various users require.We should plan to have a capability of launching one PSLV every month in the future.

vasu_ray · Post by **vasu_ray** » 15 Jul 2011 17:33

Philip wrote:We should plan to have a capability of launching one PSLV every month in the future.

With the shortage of transponders, thats where they should head and whatever manufacturing practices they did for mass producing those Iridium sats should be adopted. Congrats ISRO!

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 15 Jul 2011 17:38

Aditya_V wrote:
Can imagine that in some unmentionable forums anger and disbelief, see that SDRE is lying about sucess, it was 8KM away , what a failure onlee .offcourse the intrecasis and distances involved, satellitte using onboard fuel to manuvere to the correct position is beyond thier intellectual capacity to be understood.[/size]

Saar why do we SDREs need to imagine that Pakis are unhappy or jealous to feel more happy about ourselves? This is a firm grip that Pakis have on us and I have seen this among Indians online on BRF from 1997-98. Seems to be some deep insecurity IMO.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 15 Jul 2011 18:33

shiv wrote:
Aditya_V wrote:
Can imagine that in some unmentionable forums anger and disbelief, see that SDRE is lying about sucess, it was 8KM away , what a failure onlee .offcourse the intrecasis and distances involved, satellitte using onboard fuel to manuvere to the correct position is beyond thier intellectual capacity to be understood.[/size]
Saar why do we SDREs need to imagine that Pakis are unhappy or jealous to feel more happy about ourselves? This is a firm grip that Pakis have on us and I have seen this among Indians online on BRF from 1997-98. Seems to be some deep insecurity IMO.

Not worried in the 5 years lurked in thier forum once on the attack of PNS Mehran, but was thinking on the logic they and some DDM use to thrash ISRO DRDO and such ideas get ingrained in the Public, like Astra test was a failure, All mig's in IAF are flying coffins etc.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 15 Jul 2011 18:51

Aditya_V wrote: Not worried in the 5 years lurked in thier forum once on the attack of PNS Mehran, but was thinking on the logic they and some DDM use to thrash ISRO DRDO and such ideas get ingrained in the Public, like Astra test was a failure, All mig's in IAF are flying coffins etc.

I don;t want to persist with this discussion. Why concentrate on what Pakis are saying. We do not normally concentrate on the meaning of a dog's bark or hidden secrets in a turd. It is only when you consider Paki reactions as of more value than a dog's bark or a turd that we listen and worry.

Pakis are intelligent enough to understand that their mockery has an effect on Indians and they are encouraged to mock because the know they are being heard, they know the mockery hurts and the surest signal that their mockery hurts Indians is Indians saying "ha ha ha - look at our ISRO - better than Pakis"

To me this persistent need for Indians to thumb their nose at Pakis when something good happens in India is the surest sign that Indians are deeply upset at the mockery and want to prove that India is better. That is insecurity alright. We seem to worry a lot that Pakis mock us.

No more on this from me

Well done ISRO

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 15 Jul 2011 18:54

ISRO's GSAT-12: Woman scientist responsible for successful launch.

A woman scientist is responsible for the successful functioning of India's latest communication satellite GSAT-12, launched Friday from the space port here, 80 km north of Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai.

TK Anuradha, the first woman ever to be the satellite project director at the country's space agency, specialises in satellite checkout systems, electronic checking of satellite's performance in space, an ISRO official told IANS.

Anuradha, in her 50s, has been with the Indian Space Research Organisation for three decades now, the official said. She heads the GSAT-12 project at the ISRO Space Centre at Bangalore.

The Rs.80 crore GSAT-12 has 12 extended C-band transponders - automatic receivers and transmitters for communication and broadcast of signals.

The satellite with a life span of about eight years will augment transponder capacity of the Indian National Satellite (Insat) system. It is also expected to serve the Very Small Aperture Terminal (V-SAT) sector. VSATs are used to transmit data like point of sale transactions or to provide satellite internet access.

It will also be useful for various communication services like tele-education, tele-medicine and for village resource centres.

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 15 Jul 2011 19:23

The Lauch went of beautifully... congrats ISRO!!!

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 15 Jul 2011 19:33

Congrats! Any links to videos of the launch?

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 15 Jul 2011 19:40

Congratulations ISRO. You did it!!!

Hamara Bharat Mahan!