Indian Space Programme Discussion

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 09 Jun 2016 11:30

From the Frontline article posted above,

“If the RLV becomes viable, besides the direct spin-off of the cost of access to space coming down, from the satellite point of view, any in-orbit servicing in LEO, wherein something can be replaced, or extending the satellite’s life becomes possible,” said M. Annadurai, Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) in Bengaluru. “Towards that we are also planning some missions for docking. For that, technical feasibility exists, and we will be soon demonstrating that using a pair of small satellites,” he added.

prashanth · Post by **prashanth** » 09 Jun 2016 11:35

TSJones wrote:http://spacenews.com/satellite-operator ... -proposal/

Satellite operators give negative reviews of Indian regulator’s satellite-TV proposal -

Operators with current or planned capacity over India include SES of Luxembourg, Measat of Malaysia, AsiaSat of Hong Kong, Eutelsat of Paris, SingTel of Singapore, ABS of Bermuda, Intelsat of Luxembourg and McLean, Virginia; and APT Satellite of Hong Kong.

So these entities, most of whom don't have any space program or launch vehicles have the temerity to put satellites over our country using COTS components and launch services of a third party, when we have our own launch vehicles and satellites. Get the MKIII working soon and we can brush these guys off the table.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 09 Jun 2016 13:08

then it's ok with you guys if India is locked out of other countries' commercial space services providers?

shyamoo · Post by **shyamoo** » 09 Jun 2016 15:21

TSJones wrote:then it's ok with you guys if India is locked out of other countries' commercial space services providers?

Isn't that already being done by US? The US doesn't want to allow India to launch private company satellites in US.

nTripathi · Post by **nTripathi** » 09 Jun 2016 15:32

Bheeshma wrote:They should have taken pictures. The coastguard could have.

They must have taken pictures... Just not released it. Hope they declassify some pictures or video footage of the floater soon!

Satellite operators give negative reviews of Indian regulator’s satellite-TV proposal
“Who is going to pay to repoint 50 million satellite dishes?” asked one satellite operator, who declined to be named out of fear of angering Indian authorities.

TRAI wants to optimize the process... Now there are just about 50 million active subscribers. Its true that TRAI came up with this solution quite late but if it is not done now then will it be done when active subscribers becomes 500 million?

They need to sit together and find a way that is simplest and most beneficial in long run!

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 09 Jun 2016 16:58

I hope we also restrict satellites which have been put in orbit by US launchers.

prashanth · Post by **prashanth** » 09 Jun 2016 17:20

TSJones wrote:then it's ok with you guys if India is locked out of other countries' commercial space services providers?

What lockout? As vnmshyam sir has posted, we have been at the receiving end of discriminatory policies of various cartels ever since we started our space program. We don't have to spend precious forex to fill their pockets.

member_23370 · Post by **member_23370** » 09 Jun 2016 17:59

Exactly, unless India is allowed to launch the satellites, those satellites cannot be used for DTH in India.

member_22733 · Post by **member_22733** » 09 Jun 2016 18:00

Dont feed the troll ye folks.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 09 Jun 2016 20:25

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... 4-from-us/

India Monday successfully launched ASTROSAT, its maiden dedicated space observatory aimed at undertaking a detailed understanding of the universe, and six foreign satellites, including four from the US, onboard PSLV-C30 from the spaceport here.
This was the first time that India launched US satellites, belonging to a San Francisco-based company, under an agreement signed with Antrix Corporation Ltd, the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

ISRO's RLV test: It's all about lowering the cost of satellite launchesASTROSAT launch: PM Narendra Modi, CMs praise ISRO for space featISRO's ASTROSAT launch: India reaches for the starsIndia successfully launches Indo-French,6 foreign satellitesISRO's 100th mission: PSLV-C21 launched successfullyIndian satellite GSAT-10 to be launched in 2 months: ISROISRO's RLV test: It's all about lowering the cost of satellite launchesASTROSAT launch: PM Narendra Modi, CMs praise ISRO for space featISRO's ASTROSAT launch: India reaches for the starsIndia successfully launches Indo-French,6 foreign satellitesISRO's 100th mission: PSLV-C21 launched successfullyIndian satellite GSAT-10 to be launched in 2 months: ISROISRO's RLV test: It's all about lowering the cost of satellite launchesASTROSAT launch: PM Narendra Modi, CMs praise ISRO for space featISRO's ASTROSAT launch: India reaches for the starsIndia successfully launches Indo-French,6 foreign satellitesISRO's 100th mission: PSLV-C21 launched successfullyIndian satellite GSAT-10 to be launched in 2 months: ISRO

In a textbook launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, ISRO’s trusted workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), in its 31st flight, injected ASTROSAT and the six co-passengers into orbit about 25 minutes after a perfect lift-off amidst cheers from scientists led by the space agency’s Chairman Kiran Kumar.
The launch was witnessed by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Choudhry, who later congratulated the ISRO scientists and said the space programme was “exactly going as per our present Prime Minister’s vision and plan” and what he has said in the United States yesterday.
“Relationships our country is now harnessing and nourishing is the reason ISRO was able to launch American satellites from here,” he said.
With a lift-off mass of about 1,513 kg, ASTROSAT was first injected into a 650 km orbit by PSLV-C30, followed by the other six satellites in the space of about three minutes.
International customer satellites that piggybacked the PSLV C30 were the LAPAN-A2 of Indonesia meant for maritime surveillance using Automatic Identification System (AIS), and maritime monitoring nanosatellite from Canada, NLS-14 (Ev9), which uses ‘next generation’ AIS.
The rocket, one of world’s most reliable launch vehicles which clocked its 30th successful mission in a row today, also carried four identical LEMUR nano satellites of a Spire Global Inc., San Fransisco, US, that were non-visual remote sensing satellites ‘focusing primarily on maritime intelligence through vessel tracking via’ the AIS, ISRO said.
With this, a total of, 51 satellites belonging to global customers from 20 countries, including Germany, France, Japan,Canada, U.K, have been launched successfully by ISRO so far.
Declaring the launch successful, a beaming ISRO Chairman said PSLV had put in an astronomy mission which is beinglooked at not only within the country but also globally to bring in new information to scientific community.
“I congratulate the entire ISRO community for the wonderful job they have done,” he said addressing the gathering at the Mission Control Centre.
Hailing the ISRO for the 30th consecutive success ofPSLV, Choudhry said it was really a proud moment for everycitizen of the country.
“I congratulate the entire ISRO team present and past whohave started these missions. This being the 30th success I am sure you will be doing many more successful launches,” he said.
Director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre Kunhi Krishnan said ASTROSAT was the ‘hard earned’ gift of ISRO to the world in the area of astronomy and noted ISRO had crossed the half-century mark in commercial launches with this mission.
“We are getting ready with another dedicated commercial mission in PSLV C29 with six satellites from Singapore. All of us must be proud to see PSLV has established its prominent presence in the international space market,” he added.
ASTROSAT, which has a mission life of five years, carries four X-ray payloads, one UV telescope and a charge particle monitor.
The scientific satellite mission ASTROSAT has unique features including simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite.
According to ISRO, ASTROSAT will observe the universe in optical, ultraviolet low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, while most other scientific satellites are capable of observing a narrow range of wavelength band.
The spacecraft control centre at Mission OperationsComplex of ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bengaluru will manage the satellite during its mission life.
The scientific objectives of ASTROSAT mission are to understand high energy processes in binary star systems containing neutron stars and black holes, to estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars and to study star birth regions and high energy processes in star systems lying beyond our galaxy.
The mission is also aimed at detecting new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky and performing a limited deep field survey of the universe in the ultraviolet region.
Apart from ISRO, four other Indian institutions – Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics and Raman Research Institute, were involved in payload development, officials said.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 09 Jun 2016 23:36

Bheeshma wrote:They should have taken pictures. The coastguard could have.

Exactly. If ISRO didn't want it, the IN could have towed the huge structure, and checked if such a huge structure can accommodate a ballast tank, a periscope and a propulsion. There are not many under sea rescue ships, that can also provide huge amount of upward buoyancy by design.

OT here.

Hitesh · Post by **Hitesh** » 10 Jun 2016 03:23

TSJones, see this article:

http://spacenews.com/u-s-space-transpor ... n-rockets/

and this:

http://spacenews.com/u-s-considers-maki ... rom-india/

So US made it difficult for India to secure launch orders from US satellite operators. If US wants to prevent India from launching US satellite operators' satellites, then India has nothing to lose by going with this proposed scheme and encourage the domestic industry of space satellite operators.

sankum · Post by **sankum** » 10 Jun 2016 05:02

From the frontline article present method pf RLV over SRB is not technically feasible for full scale TSTO of 10T payload to LEO.

A winged first semi cryogenic stage with cryo upper stage with winged landing of first stage and optional recovery of second stage or space X resuable configuratuion of First stage with 5 semicryogenic engine and landing near A&N island will be explored.

My estimate for first version is from slide 3 semi crogenic engine powering first winged stage of 200T thrust each.
MTOW-400T, 1st stage-300T empty weight 25t. 2nd stage-90T cryo stage empty stage-15T, payload of 10T to LEO. Velocity increment is 10.1km/sec. Payload fraction 2.5%.

2nd version MTOW=665T, 1st stage 500T with 5 semi cryo engine empty weight=30T, 2nd stage 155T cryo stage empty weight 25T and payload 10T to LEO. payload fraction 1.5%. Velocity increment is 11km/sec.

member_29350 · Post by **member_29350** » 13 Jun 2016 19:14

The scientists of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, have showcased the ceramic-polymer hybrid (CASPOL), a spin-off product that could protect public transport systems and poor men residing in thatched homes from fire accidents. Technology transfer is yet to be concluded. Caspol is an indigenously developed, easy-to-use flame-proof coating, from the VSSC stable. The water-based ready-to-coat product was originally developed to protect the rockets from high temperature and fire to which they are exposed during the initial moments of launch.

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/scienc ... 718325.ece

Space technology to safeguard thatched roofs

sankum · Post by **sankum** » 14 Jun 2016 15:13

My estimate for first version is from slide 3 semi crogenic engine powering first winged stage of 200T thrust each.
MTOW-400T, 1st stage-300T empty weight 25t. 2nd stage-90T cryo stage empty stage-15T, payload of 10T to LEO. Velocity increment is 10.1km/sec. Payload fraction 2.5%.

I will update the above configuration based on statement that RLV 1st stage carrying small cryo stage as second stage. GSLV mk3 C25 cryo stage carried over 1st RLV stage. It will be a perfect replacement for GSLV mk3 with current or under development engine configuration.

My estimate for first version is from slide 3 semi crogenic engine powering first winged stage of 200T thrust each.
MTOW-425T, 1st stage-385T empty weight 30t. 2nd stage-32T cryo stage empty stage-5T, payload of 8T to LEO. Velocity increment is 9.9km/sec. Payload fraction 1.9%.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 14 Jun 2016 17:31

http://www.isro.gov.in/launcher/pslv-c34

PSLV Cartosat 2C and 19 other satellites to be launched on schedule, Monday June 20th! On the ISRO website now.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 15 Jun 2016 13:44

India's Space Program Takes On Elon Musk

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 16 Jun 2016 22:14

http://www.isro.gov.in/update/16-jun-20 ... -2016-0925

Launch Postponed to 22nd.

disha · Post by **disha** » 18 Jun 2016 01:47

Austin wrote:India's Space Program Takes On Elon Musk

A very sloppy article from the stables of bloomberg. Please do not waste time reading it.,

only my uncle (and his types) will read it (and my uncle still thinks that all Geo sats are INSATs - keyword is 'all' - for him there is no Geo orbit, it is INSAT orbit - and I happily do not correct him - and please do not correct me - unless you are my long lost cousin who somehow knows my uncle better than me!)

sankum · Post by **sankum** » 18 Jun 2016 08:50

That means you imply Austin an uncle

My apologies to Austin.

member_23694 · Post by **member_23694** » 19 Jun 2016 09:19

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/scienc ... 746631.ece

Fifty minutes after the satellites are injected into the orbit from the fourth stage of the vehicle, its engine will be re-ignited for five seconds. Then it will be shut down for 50 minutes and re-ignited for another five seconds, according to K. Sivan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.

Complex manoeuvre
The ISRO wants to master this complex manoeuvre so that it can put multiple satellites into different orbits using the same rocket.

arun · Post by **arun** » 19 Jun 2016 09:49

^^^ PSLV-C34 will do two Stops and Restarts of Stage IV with 3000 seconds inbetween

.

Does this "complex manoeuvre" provide any learning for MIRV's?

On June 22, eight minutes after the PSLV-C34 lifts off, the fourth stage engine will sizzle into life, taking the stage to an altitude of 514 km. The fourth stage engine will be cut off 16 minutes and 30 seconds after the lift-off. Over the next 10 minutes, 20 satellites will be injected into the same orbit from the fourth stage, one after another.

Dr. Sivan said: “After each satellite is injected into orbit, the vehicle will be re-oriented if required and the next satellite will be put into orbit with a varying velocity so that the distance between the satellites grows monotonically. We will do this to ensure that there is no collision of satellites. Then, after a huge gap of 3,000 seconds, PS-4 [the fourth stage] will be re-ignited for five seconds. Then, it will be switched off for another 3,000 seconds. It will be re-ignited for another five seconds.”

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 19 Jun 2016 19:09

arun wrote:^^^ PSLV-C34 will do two Stops and Restarts of Stage IV with 3000 seconds inbetween .

Does this "complex manoeuvre" provide any learning for MIRV's?

In India's case, the civilian and military spheres are mutually exclusive.

shyamoo · Post by **shyamoo** » 19 Jun 2016 19:17

SSridhar wrote:
arun wrote:^^^ PSLV-C34 will do two Stops and Restarts of Stage IV with 3000 seconds inbetween .

Does this "complex manoeuvre" provide any learning for MIRV's?
In India's case, the civilian and military spheres are mutually exclusive.

Sridhar ji, are we supposed to read that with a Wink and a nod?

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 19 Jun 2016 22:15

Mission Readiness Review (MRR) committee and Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) have cleared the 48 hr countdown starting at 09:26hr IST on Monday, June 20, 2016 and the launch of PSLV-C34/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission for Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 09:26hr IST

symontk · Post by **symontk** » 20 Jun 2016 05:36

arun wrote:^^^ PSLV-C34 will do two Stops and Restarts of Stage IV with 3000 seconds inbetween .

Does this "complex manoeuvre" provide any learning for MIRV's?

I suspect ISRO is testing a new engine for Chandrayaan - 2 with additional procedure testing like restart. 3000 seconds is a long time, 50 mts, ie. thrice the entire time taken for a PSLV.

srin · Post by **srin** » 20 Jun 2016 06:48

^^^ Not too sure about that. Chandrayaan-2 is supposed to be launched using GSLV (maybe because of the weight), which would mean that the final stage that would need to restart would be the cryo stage.

Unless plans have changed drastically ...

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 20 Jun 2016 07:12

20 satellites, two from Indian Universities. Good for the students, and the Madras and Puns Universities.

symontk · Post by **symontk** » 20 Jun 2016 12:20

srin wrote:^^^ Not too sure about that. Chandrayaan-2 is supposed to be launched using GSLV (maybe because of the weight), which would mean that the final stage that would need to restart would be the cryo stage.

Unless plans have changed drastically ...

Chandryaan - 2 itself has a liquid engine, which would need stop and restart. I was referring to that. For a costly mission like Chandrayaan - 2, ISRO will not be sending in a unproven engine. They would test it out in flight before approving it

kit · Post by **kit** » 20 Jun 2016 20:10

The start / restart tech is of great value in space application

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinci_(rocket_engine)

Vinci is an expander cycle rocket engine fed with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. Its biggest improvement from its predecessor, the HM7B (which powers the ESC-A), is the capability of restarting up to five times. It is also the first European expander cycle engine, removing the need for a gas generator to drive the fuel and oxidizer pumps. The engine features a carbon ceramic extendable nozzle in order to have a large, 2.15 m diameter nozzle extension with minimum length: the retracted nozzle part is deployed only after the upper stage separates from the rest of the rocket; after extension, the engine's overall length increases from 2.3 m to 4.2 m.

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 20 Jun 2016 22:22

Filling of Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen (MON-3) of PS4 is completed
Date: Jun, 20, 2016
Filling of Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen (MON-3) of PS4 is under progress
Date: Jun, 20, 2016
Mono Methyl Hydrazine (MMH) filling operation of Fourth stage (PS4) of PSLV-C34 is completed by 12:06 hr (IST). Preparations for filling of Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen (MON-3) of PS4 are under progress
Date: Jun, 20, 2016

disha · Post by **disha** » 20 Jun 2016 23:09

Symontk/Kit., the start-stop tech was proved by Mangalyaan itself. Both short term start-stop and long term start-stop. Nothing new in this.

---

By launching different sized sats in different orbits (note done it in past)., but doing it again - it validates their "universal launch adapter" (my term for I forget the original) and the process (integration, launch, monitoring etc). This proves its mettle as a low cost carrier for diverse sat market (for example the 12 DOVE sats!).

Note this does not have anything to do with MIRV., if at all people want to read MIRV in a non-millitary application, than that too was proven long back when multiple sats were launched.

disha · Post by **disha** » 20 Jun 2016 23:09

Excellent Brochure on PSLV-C34 http://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/fi ... lv_c34.pdf

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 21 Jun 2016 10:53

MIRV release is different. The articles are released after engine burnout in the ascent phase itself

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 21 Jun 2016 15:23

disha wrote:Excellent Brochure on PSLV-C34 http://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/fi ... lv_c34.pdf

Man, that's a thing of beauty on the launchpad, no matter how many times you've seen it.

There were originally supposed to be 22 satellites, not only

20, those deleted two will probably be going up on the next launch with Resourcesat and Scatsat.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 22 Jun 2016 07:21

Even as we await the launch less than an hour from now,

ISRO gears up to test scramjet engine - T.Nandakumar, The Hindu

Flush with the success of the technology demonstration flight of its Reusable Launch Vehicle last month, ISRO is gearing up to test a scramjet engine based on air-breathing propulsion.

The test flight of the indigenously developed scramjet engine is scheduled to take place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota sometime in July. Named Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV), the test platform will comprise a scramjet engine hitched to a two-stage sounding rocket (RH- 560). “The vehicle has been characterised and is being fabricated at the VSSC and the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri,” VSSC Director K. Sivan told The Hindu over phone from Sriharikota, amid preparations for the PSLV-C34 launch.

The air-breathing engine will be released at a height of 70 km and ignited during the coasting phase. Apart from the hypersonic ignition at Mach 6, ISRO hopes to sustain the combustion for 5 seconds. “The test is also expected to help us achieve good thrust value with the scramjet engine,” Dr. Sivan said. Maintaining combustion in hypersonic conditions poses technical challenges.

Dr. Sivan said the post-flight analysis of RLV-TD test flight had shown encouraging results. “We could understand the hypersonic aerothermodynamics of the delta winged body, the Thermal Protection System worked well and the hypersonic re-entry, autonomous navigation and landing could be validated.”

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 22 Jun 2016 08:22

Looks like naarml.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 22 Jun 2016 08:38

naarmal, naarmal, naarmal. Like makhmal

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 22 Jun 2016 08:43

All satellites launched recognition test to be done

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 22 Jun 2016 09:00

Naarml × 20 times onlee.