Indian Space Program: News & Discussion - Sept 2016

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 25 Nov 2016 22:59

X-posted
"Most ISRO and other launches take up multiple satellites at the same time (one upcoming launch by ISRO in January plans to launch 68 in a single mission for instance). "

On the reputable site "Spaceflight Now", there is no mention of this 68( or 83 going by other reports) satellite launch by ISRO in early 2017, or anytime during the year. Is that because it's not officially announced, and that they are keeping many launch dates open?

Because if it really is in January, wouldn't most of those satellites have arrived by now, and the vehicle undergoing at least initial assembly?

Rishi Verma · Post by **Rishi Verma** » 25 Nov 2016 23:07

^^ ISRO is too sekular. They should launch 108 satellites in one go, each with Vedic names then see the faces of money-shankar iyer and his tribe.

bharats · Post by **bharats** » 27 Nov 2016 08:41

ISRO in global competition to cut cost of satellite launch
by Laxmi Prasanna TNN November 20, 2016

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When space faring nations are focused on innovative cost-effective launches, ISRO with its commercial arm, Antrix Corporation is set on its challenge of developing low-cost reliable space launch vehicles. Now, with increasing global competition, India needs to focus on cost effective space launches by re-engineering the production models of space vehicles and design manufacturing to drive down the cost of space launches, Antrix chairman and managing director (CMD) S Rakesh said.

"At the global level, lot of developments are happening in terms of small satellite launches and some low cost space launch vehicles are coming up. In about three to five years, globally it is aimed at reducing the space launch costs further. Many countries, including US, Ukraine, Russia, China and New Zealand are developing it. We are seeing threats from different quarters of the world and India should gear up to meet the challenges of global competition," Antrix CMD S Rakesh told TOI.Further he said, "I am cautioning our community that, PSLV has an edge, as it is a sought-after launch vehicle in the global market and should keep it that way. All other launch vehicles should be made cost-effective".

He was speaking on the side lines of the tenth National symposium and exhibition on Aerospace and Defence related Mechanisms seminar (ARMS 2016) that began here on Friday. He also inaugurated the aerospace expo here that will be wound up on Saturday.
According to ISRO sources the cost of SAARC satellite launch in March 2017 is estimated at Rs 236 crore and PSLV launch pegged at Rs 90 to Rs 100 crore, the European space agency's Ariane-5 rocket launch incurs Rs 721 crore and the US space manufacturer Space X's Falcon-9 incurs around Rs 500 crore. Yet, they are set to reduce the costs further by recovering and reusing the boosters.

"US space venture such as Space X are into recovery and re-use of boosters after the launch and it reduces the cost by 40 per cent. India has developed the technology demonstrator of Reusable Launch Vehicle and is yet to attain the stage of recovery of the launch vehicle after it lands, so that it can be re-used to reduce the cost of launches. We are trying to keep pace with the world and it's a major challenge," VSSC former director S Ramakrishnan told TOI. Lowering the costs further calls for high-end innovative space technology, he said.

While, inaugurating ARMS through video conference, ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar emphasized that young engineers should concentrate more on the modelling and analysis of the complex systems for better prediction of flight performance. He said the seminar is attended by more than 300 technocrats, engineers, scientists and industry specialists. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director K Sivan in his presidential address stressed that cost-effective, autonomous and Reliable space systems are the need of the hour and asked the scientific community to strive towards this aim. He also spoke of the vital role that the mechanisms play for the future missions like the Human in Space program and other interplanetary missions that are in the pipeline.

Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre director S Somnath spoke of the important role that various Deployable and Hold down mechanisms need to play in the advanced satellite systems and in various docking, rendezvous activities that are going to the part and parcel of future space missions. He also released the souvenir. Indian National Society for Aerospace and Defence Related Mechanisms (INSARM) National Council president AM Datar released the seminar proceedings.

Website: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 529404.cms

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 27 Nov 2016 20:35

On the reputable site "Spaceflight Now", there is no mention of this 68( or 83 going by other reports) satellite launch by ISRO in early 2017, or anytime during the year. Is that because it's not officially announced, and that they are keeping many launch dates open?

I Think they are not including flights unless they are confirmed.

They have not included April ( C38 ) and Dec ( Carto 2E + some piggybacks ) launches.

Earlier C37 flight ( with 80+ sats ) was scheduled for June/Jul 17 now ISRO say Jan-Mar 17 window. This flight also is missing.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 30 Nov 2016 21:51

http://www.isro.gov.in/launcher/pslv-c36-resourcesat-2a

Official announcement of Dec 7th launch of Resourcesat 2A. Cool.

It would be a nice gesture for ISRO to dedicate the launch to the Nagrota, Macchil and Uri terror victims.

bharats · Post by **bharats** » 03 Dec 2016 20:19

GSLV-Mk III next for Isro to be launched in January
by A Ragu Raman Deccan Chronicle November 30, 2016

The 43.43-metre tall vehicle has the liquid and cryogenic stage and two S200 solid rocket boosters

Chennai: The 640-tonne GSLV Mk-III, Isro’s heaviest rocket till date, is likely to be launched in January as some stages of the rocket are still undergoing tests. Isro first had planned to launch the heavy rocket in December end. But the largest cryogenic engine CE-20 developed for this rocket is yet to be delivered as it is undergoing tests at Isro’s Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

The indigenous first developmental vehicle is capable of placing the 4-tonne class GSAT satellites into the Geostationary Transfer Orbit. The 43.43-metre tall vehicle has the liquid and cryogenic stage and two S200 solid rocket boosters.

“All the systems are now getting ready. The L110 and S200 stages are already delivered to Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The cryogenic engine CE-20 is still not delivered as the engine tests are going on,” K.Sivan, director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvanan thapuram told Deccan Chronicle.

The cryogenic stage for the vehicle is expected to be delivered sometime in December.

“The exact date for the launch will be finalised only when we finish our tests. It’s not like PSLV or GSLV launches. It’s a new stage, new testing and some new observations will be there and we have to solve the teething issues. In all likelihood, the launch may go to January,” he said.

GSLV-Mk-III rocket will launch the 3.2-tonne GSAT-19 satellite into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.

“GSLV-Mk-III will launch the satellite like our regular GSLV rocket,” K.Sivan said.

The 25-metre height solid rocket boosters will burn 207 tonne of solid propellant each to give the required thrust to lift off the vehicle. The GSAT-19 satellite will carry Ka and Ku-band payload along with a Geostationary Radiation Spectrometer (GRASP) payload to monitor and study the nature of the charged particles and influence of space radiation on spacecraft and electronic components.

Earlier, Isro had tested the 3,775 kg Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) using the GSLV-Mk-III rocket which flew with a passive cryogenic stage. The module re-entered the atmosphere from the height of 126 km and deployed its parachutes as planned and splashed down in the Bay of Bengal.

Website: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/science/ ... nuary.html

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 03 Dec 2016 20:30

^
Excellent news. Whoa,will this ever be a breakthrough, if it is successful. It should also silence those sour-pusses on various fora, who keep saying that ISRO hasn't really done anything new or made a dramatic leap in years, despite the Moon, Mars, SRE-1,and various other achievements. GSLV Mark 3 would be such a leap!

bharats( or anyone), what would have been the specific engineering/technological challenge for the L-110 first stage engine? The S-200 strap ons, very impressive as they are, seemed to have hogged all the attention

, together with the upcoming C-25 stage. While the L-110 gets short shrift. There must have been something challenging and time consuming about it, there was even a failed/aborted ground test a few years ago.

bharats · Post by **bharats** » 03 Dec 2016 23:34

Varoon Shekhar wrote:^
Excellent news. Whoa,will this ever be a breakthrough, if it is successful. It should also silence those sour-pusses on various fora, who keep saying that ISRO hasn't really done anything new or made a dramatic leap in years, despite the Moon, Mars, SRE-1,and various other achievements. GSLV Mark 3 would be such a leap!

bharats( or anyone), what would have been the specific engineering/technological challenge for the L-110 first stage engine? The S-200 strap ons, very impressive as they are, seemed to have hogged all the attention , together with the upcoming C-25 stage. While the L-110 gets short shrift. There must have been something challenging and time consuming about it, there was even a failed/aborted ground test a few years ago.

I agree that GSLV Mark 3 should be a great leap, and I am a 'believer' we could have achieved something more in Chandrayaan 1, Mangalyaan 1 and Aditya 1?, had the GSLV Mark 2 or 3 were available in early 2000s.

And I agree that ISRO did not talk much about the L110 stage. L110 restartable liquid stage use two improved Vikas engines, each producing 75 tonnes (735 kN) of thrust. I recollect reading the improved Vikas engine will use regenerative cooling, providing improved weight and specific impulse, compared to earlier avatars. L110 has originally targeted for a full 200 second burn in March 2010, the test was terminated at 150 seconds after a leakage in a control system was detected and fully tested on September 2010. So I expect the duel engine control configuration might had some engineering challenges not anticipated before. Nevertheless the Vikas engine pattern are well known to ISRO, and so not perceive a major challenge there. And cryogenic seems the buzz word, C-25, and eventually Vikas engine would get replaced by semi cryogenics, assume ISRO PR (and a world against the Vikas engines

)would have kept L110 on low lights.

Aarvee · Post by **Aarvee** » 04 Dec 2016 08:07

https://youtu.be/xGhq4Nbzj8M

India ISRO Rocket Launch Watched By Two UFOs, Sept 27, 2015, Video, UFO Sighting News.

FWIW- I'm not a crazy/stupid tin foil hat kinda person. Just thought its interesting after the so called UFO sighting at the failed SX launch.

bharats · Post by **bharats** » 04 Dec 2016 16:03

GSLV engine tested at Mahendragiri
by The Hindu December 4, 2016

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the test of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III’s indigenous cryogenic CE-20 engine at ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri in the district on Saturday.

The CE-20 was ignited and tested for 25 seconds from 7.20 p.m. in the presence of A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO, to study the performance of the engine that will play a pivotal role in the rocket weighing about 4 tonne.

“The engine, which will get ignited at high altitude in vacuum during actual flight, performed exceptionally well to meet all predetermined goals,” said sources in the ISRO Propulsion Complex.

Website: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/scienc ... 756493.ece

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 05 Dec 2016 06:20

Interestingly, the UK is also racing to land a rover on Mars.

Let us wish our br0thers luck.

------

British rover will go to Mars despite worrying crash landing, says European Space Agency

European mission to land a rover on Mars will go ahead despite a test run ending in failure last month.

The European Space Agency (Esa) announced on Friday that member states had agreed to provide the 440 million euro (£370 million) needed to ensure the future of ExoMars Rover, which is currently being built at Airbus in Stevenage.

The future of the project looked in doubt after a probe designed to make a test landing on the Red Planet crashed into the surface in November.

However European science ministers decided to back the mission at a pivotal Esa council meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The space agency's director general, Jan Woerner, said: "Today I am very confident that we will do it ... We need to work hard because it's not only some rover, we have the payloads from different sources - all of this has to pack together.

"It's not an easy thing, but we are confident that we will succeed."

The mission, the second stage of a two-part programme costing 1.3 billion euro (£1.09 billion), is due to land a rover on the Red Planet in 2021 to drill into the Martian soil and look for biochemical traces of living or dead microbes.

But the ExoMars Rover has had a difficult history and come close to being abandoned on more than one occasion.

Originally it was to have been a joint enterprise with Nasa, but the American space agency pulled out and a new partnership was formed with Russia's agency, Roscosmos.

In May, the launch date was put back two years because of problems with delivering hardware.

But the mission suffered its most serious setback in October when the demonstrator lander Schiaparelli, designed to test the rover's landing system, crashed on the surface of Mars.

Experts have said lessons would be learned from the loss, caused by a glitch that meant the probe sensed it had landed when still more than a mile above the planet's surface.

The Trace Gas Orbiter spacecraft which carried Schiaparelli to Mars is said to be functioning well. Next year it will start sniffing the planet's atmosphere for trace gases including methane, which may indicate the presence of life.

David Parker, the agency's director of human spaceflight and robotic exploration, said: "The UK has provided the amount of funding requested for the space station and indeed has made some indications about longer term commitment as well, so it was positive.

“The UK has to pay its way on the ISS to have any hope of another British astronaut following in the footsteps of Tim Peake.”

Source :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016 ... ding-says/

vina · Post by **vina** » 05 Dec 2016 07:55

bharats wrote: L110 restartable liquid stage use two improved Vikas engines, .

The Ariane Viking & the ISRO Vikas engines are NOT restartable and I dont think that they even have are throttle capable. I would very surprised if the L110 has even throttle capability, let alone restart . In any case, restart is relevant only for upper stages. For lower stages, it is of zero value. What is more important is for the engine to throttle to adjust the thrust profile during flight , especially in the atmosphere.

prasannasimha · Post by **prasannasimha** » 06 Dec 2016 23:41

RESOURCESAT2 is to be launched tomorrow at 10.25 AM

Ashokk · Post by **Ashokk** » 06 Dec 2016 23:57

RESOURCESAT-2A

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 07 Dec 2016 04:19

Any link to the launch?

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 07 Dec 2016 08:02

^
In a couple of hours

http://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c36-resourc ... -2a-launch

KBDagha · Post by **KBDagha** » 07 Dec 2016 10:43

PSLV-C36 blasts off from Sriharikota.

Smooth launch of PSLV-C36, first stage performance 'normal.'

Second stage performance also normal, pay-load firing separated.

Second stage separates, third stage ignited at about 190 km distance.

Stage three separates after 523 seconds at about 650 km, stage four ignites.

Isro announces 4th stage performance of PSLV-C36 normal.

KBDagha · Post by **KBDagha** » 07 Dec 2016 10:51

Isro completes successful launch of PSLV -C36 from Sriharikota.

Bheeshma · Post by **Bheeshma** » 07 Dec 2016 10:53

Yawn...naarmal sir. Even GSLV-II is boring now bring on the GSLV-III

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 07 Dec 2016 10:56

This time we would have video of even the solar panel deployment.

More importantly, our own NAVIC was put to use to get a very precise orbit with new avionics.

Dr. Sivan just announced that GSLV-Mk III will be launched on Jan 20th.

Bheeshma · Post by **Bheeshma** » 07 Dec 2016 11:02

Awesome !!! have no doubt about GSLV-III's success.

sooraj · Post by **sooraj** » 07 Dec 2016 13:03

New remote umbilical fill and drain system cut short the launch countdown by 1 day.

sooraj · Post by **sooraj** » 07 Dec 2016 13:04

NAVIC was integrated into PSLV for vehicle navigation. Indigenous NAVIC receiver and Lithium ion battery for receiver used.

Indigenous Vikram system processor was used for PSLV's onboard computer.

Advanced avionics packages like MiniAINS, MEMS smart sensors were tested in this flight.

Pad abort test for Human Spaceflight Program will be conducted shortly.

Ashokk · Post by **Ashokk** » 07 Dec 2016 15:50

We can see the navigation system correcting the path in real time after first and second stage separations. The commentary mentioned that five cameras carried on board to record the stage separations and the satellite separation. Hopefully ISRO will release the clips soon.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 07 Dec 2016 17:07

S'cuse the naivete/ignorance, but indigenous guidance and navigation have always been there on PSLV, haven't they? Certain parts would have been imported. But nice news, anyway.

prashanth · Post by **prashanth** » 07 Dec 2016 17:11

Varoon Shekhar wrote:S'cuse the naivete/ignorance, but indigenous guidance and navigation have always been there on PSLV, haven't they? Certain parts would have been imported. But nice news, anyway.

One of the most important part is the microprocessor used in control units for systems you have mentioned. IIRC they were using Motorola 68000 earlier for that purpose. Since a few years they have been using Vikram 1601, a 16 bit processor. This is currently manufactured in SCL with 180 nm technology node.

raj-senthil · Post by **raj-senthil** » 07 Dec 2016 17:12

SSridhar wrote:This time we would have video of even the solar panel deployment.

resourcesat-2a-seperation-and-solar-panel-deployment-video-onboard-camera

pslv-c36-strap-and-heat-shield-seperation-video-onboard-camera

prashanth · Post by **prashanth** » 07 Dec 2016 17:18

raj-senthil wrote:
SSridhar wrote:This time we would have video of even the solar panel deployment.
resourcesat-2a-seperation-and-solar-panel-deployment-video-onboard-camera

pslv-c36-strap-and-heat-shield-seperation-video-onboard-camera

The first video does not show deployment of panel, but only satellite separation from the bus.

A Deshmukh · Post by **A Deshmukh** » 07 Dec 2016 18:15

prashanth wrote:
raj-senthil wrote:resourcesat-2a-seperation-and-solar-panel-deployment-video-onboard-camera
The first video does not show deployment of panel, but only satellite separation from the bus.

Deploys at the end 2.30+ min

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 07 Dec 2016 18:17

Thanks, that Vikram processor may have been first used in Sept 2009 for the Oceansat-2 mission. I guess my question is, how much of the PSLV's guidance and navigation system is Indian made. I do know that accelerometers on the very first PSLV(D-1) were indigenous.

prashanth · Post by **prashanth** » 07 Dec 2016 18:24

A Deshmukh wrote:
prashanth wrote: The first video does not show deployment of panel, but only satellite separation from the bus.
Deploys at the end 2.30+ min

Looks like they have replaced the file. Previous version was 4.6 MB with 1:49 min duration.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 07 Dec 2016 20:47

prashanth wrote: The first video does not show deployment of panel, but only satellite separation from the bus.

You can see it clearly here.

disha · Post by **disha** » 07 Dec 2016 21:57

Varoon Shekhar wrote:Thanks, that Vikram processor may have been first used in Sept 2009 for the Oceansat-2 mission. I guess my question is, how much of the PSLV's guidance and navigation system is Indian made. I do know that accelerometers on the very first PSLV(D-1) were indigenous.

All of the guidance and navigation system is Indian made. Also previous versions of PSLV carried Ring Laser Gyroscopes and speculation is that the current improvement is MINGS.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 07 Dec 2016 22:36

Thanks Disha! I guess I was misled by 'first Navic' - that is different than ' navigation and guidance'. Navic is referring to the IRNSS. system, and its receiver

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 07 Dec 2016 23:44

Off topic but a yearwise depiction of semiconductor thickness.
Do remember, that these are commercial use chips for use on earth - not radiation hardened and not supposed to be used on rockets or satellites. Those have much stringent needs.

Semiconductor
manufacturing
processes

10 µm – 1971
6 µm – 1974
3 µm – 1977
1.5 µm – 1982
1 µm – 1985
800 nm – 1989
600 nm – 1994
350 nm – 1995
250 nm – 1997
180 nm – 1999
130 nm – 2001
90 nm – 2004
65 nm – 2006
45 nm – 2008
32 nm – 2010
22 nm – 2012
14 nm – 2014
10 nm – 2017
7 nm – ~2018
5 nm – ~2020

nirav · Post by **nirav** » 08 Dec 2016 01:14

How does a BR meet @ lake pulicat sound - Jan 20th 2017 ?

Lets get them cameras and handycams rolling and capture the biggest bad boy of ISRO roar into antriksh.

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 08 Dec 2016 01:15

Great visuals from the fourth stage. Can the image be processed to correct for the satellite's albedo?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 08 Dec 2016 20:44

a development trend worth weighing carefully...

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is building a low-cost space rocket with the help of Japanese tech manufacturer Canon, reports said on Friday.
The project would use Canon's experience in designing smaller and lighter control instruments with a view to create the world's smallest satellite launch vehicle, Efe news reported.
The three-stage rocket, 52 cm in diameter and just under 10 metres (32.8 ft) long, will be an improvement upon the two-stage SS-520 JAXA model.
The launch would cost less than a tenth of what a conventional launch costs.
The JAXA, which first announced the project on November 20, intends to use the device to place microsatellites into orbit with a first test launch in early 2017 from the Uchinoura Space Center in Japan.
With this, Canon joins the growing bandwagon of private Japanese players entering a government-dominated sector, where around 90 percent of Japanese space industry sales - pegged at around $2.63 billion - correspond to the public sector.
Weather and defence satellites presently in use tend to be large and commissioned by the administration.
However, the last few years saw a rise in the development of smaller devices by private firms for traffic management or geographical surveys.
The demand for rockets to such devices is expected to rise as the aerospace sector booms.
Companies such as HIS travel agency and All Nippon Airways parent company ANA Holdings, have already entered the arena.
Both have announced they will invest in PD Aerospace, a Nagoya-based startup which works on manned spacecrafts and hopes to conduct its first commercial space flight in 2023.

siddhu · Post by **siddhu** » 08 Dec 2016 23:52

Gagan wrote:Off topic but a yearwise depiction of semiconductor thickness.
Do remember, that these are commercial use chips for use on earth - not radiation hardened and not supposed to be used on rockets or satellites. Those have much stringent needs.

Semiconductor
manufacturing
processes

10 µm – 1971
6 µm – 1974
3 µm – 1977
1.5 µm – 1982
1 µm – 1985
800 nm – 1989
600 nm – 1994
350 nm – 1995
250 nm – 1997
180 nm – 1999
130 nm – 2001
90 nm – 2004
65 nm – 2006
45 nm – 2008
32 nm – 2010
22 nm – 2012
14 nm – 2014
10 nm – 2017
7 nm – ~2018
5 nm – ~2020

There are more nodes. 28nm, 20nm, 16nm. Currently 16nm is the most stable node.
ISRO have 180nm. http://www.scl.gov.in/respond.html

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 08 Dec 2016 23:59

^^^ That is true. 14 is nearly there though.