Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by Ashokk »

EOS-06 commenced serving the images
Image
First-day images received on Nov 29, 2022, at NRSC, Shadnagar cover the Himalayan region, Gujarat Kutch region, & the Arabian Sea.
They are captured by the Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) & Sea Surface Temperature Monitor (SSTM) Sensors. (1/2)
The images were released by Chairman ISRO, Shri S. Somanath in virtual mode, in the presence of Director, URSC Shri Sankaran, and Director, NRSC Dr. Prakash Chauhan at IMGOES NRSC, Shadnagar. (2/2)
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by Pratyush »

X posting from the internal security watch thread.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 2-amp.html

People who damaged the Indian space program are running pillar to post in order to avoid justice for the crime against the nation.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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Isro completes 1st blow down test of Trisonic Wind Tunnel; Hypersonic vehicle trials.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) completed the first blow down test of the newly installed Trisonic Wind Tunnel at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the space agency’s lead rocketbuilding agency, on Thursday.

Trisonic Wind Tunnel is a system to aid aerodynamic design of rockets and re-entry spacecrafts by characterising a scaled model by evaluating
forces, moments, load distribution, unsteady pressures, acoustic levels etc

Arguing that this is a major step towards India’s increasing self-reliance in the aerospace sector, Isro said: “The tunnel has an overall length of about 160m and has a maximum cross section of 5.4m. The tunnel can be used for testing various space vehicles in three flight regimes below the
speed of sound, at the speed of sound and above the speed of sound — hence the name trisonic wind tunnel.”

It added that the tunnel can simulate flight conditions from 0.2 times the speed of sound (68 m/s) to 4 times the speed of sound (1360 m/s).

“The huge structure was built with several hundred tonnes of steel and was implemented through Tata Projects India Ltd in association with Aiolos Engineering Corporation, Canada and fully realised by industries across India, including Walchandnagar Industries, Pune, Acoustic India, Tiruchirappalli, Artson Engineering, Nashik, Summits Hygronics, Coimbatore, Hydrocare Fluid Power Systems, Bengaluru and Siemens Energy, Ahmedabad,” Isro said.

In a tweet unrelated to the wind tunnel, Isro said the space agency along with agencies from the three armed forces, jointly conducted Hypersonic vehicle trials.

“The trials achieved all required parameters and demonstrated Hypersonic vehicle capability,” Isro said, without divulging any more details of the project.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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ISRO, In-Space Sign MoU With Vyom Space To Build Private Space Capsules.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gurugram, Haryana-based private space firm, Vyom Space Exploration and Services Private Limited, for its “human and cargo transportation capsule program", the central space agency announced on Tuesday. The MoU was facilitated by India’s nodal space authorization body, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (In-Space).

According to Isro, the startup is being incubated under ‘JSIIC’. Details about the incubation program, or Isro’s targeted timelines, were not disclosed publicly by the body.

A ‘capsule’ in a space mission is the module inside which any cargo is placed for being carried to space. In manned missions, the capsule is what hosts the astronauts. The capsules have typically been single-use in nature, with the exception of US-based private space firm, Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s reusable human and cargo module, Crew Dragon.

Manish Kukreti, founder and chief executive of Vyom Space, told Mint that the company has so far been working with research and development (R&D) partners in Europe to develop its product.

“India is not a market that is already developed in terms of the entire gamut of space infrastructure, which required us to tap global partners to develop our product. There will be a clear and obvious demand in the space industry for reusable capsules that can carry cargo and eventually humans, and so far, only the US and China have been able to develop such a product," Kukreti said.

According to Kukreti, the company will be delivering the first prototype of its space capsule to Isro within the next 16 months, subsequent to which the capsule would be tested by the space body. “We are developing only the core technology of the capsule itself, and given the vast body of expertise that Isro has in the other parts of a space mission, wouldn’t want to delve into every single aspect of it," he said.

Isro’s announcement of an MoU with Vyom Space comes amid a slew of achievements for the private space sector in India. On November 18, Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace became the first himegrown private space company to launch a rocket into space. A week later, on November 26, Pixxel and Dhruva Space launched their second round of satellites aboard Isro’s latest commercial mission.

Last week, Srinath Ravichandran, chief executive of Agnikul Cosmos, told Mint that the company plans to launch its own rocket — and India’s first orbital private rocket — from Srihariokota, Andhra Pradesh before the end of the year.

Vyom’s Kukreti said that the company’s own module will be reusable, and therefore be an evolution of what the first prototype module of Isro’s manned mission, Gaganyaan, will use. “If you look at Gaganyaan, the modules are all single-use modules, which thus do not have high commercial viability. This is what we seek to offer to Isro’s missions," he said.

While Kukreti refused to disclose funding details of the startup, he admitted that building a space capsule is “a very capital intensive task". However, he claimed that the startup already has “commitments" from private investors around the world.
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Vips wrote:ISRO, In-Space Sign MoU With Vyom Space To Build Private Space Capsules.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gurugram, Haryana-based private space firm, Vyom Space Exploration and Services Private Limited, for its “human and cargo transportation capsule program", the central space agency announced on Tuesday. The MoU was facilitated by India’s nodal space authorization body, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (In-Space).

According to Isro, the startup is being incubated under ‘JSIIC’. Details about the incubation program, or Isro’s targeted timelines, were not disclosed publicly by the body.

A ‘capsule’ in a space mission is the module inside which any cargo is placed for being carried to space. In manned missions, the capsule is what hosts the astronauts. The capsules have typically been single-use in nature, with the exception of US-based private space firm, Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s reusable human and cargo module, Crew Dragon.

Manish Kukreti, founder and chief executive of Vyom Space, told Mint that the company has so far been working with research and development (R&D) partners in Europe to develop its product.

“India is not a market that is already developed in terms of the entire gamut of space infrastructure, which required us to tap global partners to develop our product. There will be a clear and obvious demand in the space industry for reusable capsules that can carry cargo and eventually humans, and so far, only the US and China have been able to develop such a product," Kukreti said.

According to Kukreti, the company will be delivering the first prototype of its space capsule to Isro within the next 16 months, subsequent to which the capsule would be tested by the space body. “We are developing only the core technology of the capsule itself, and given the vast body of expertise that Isro has in the other parts of a space mission, wouldn’t want to delve into every single aspect of it," he said.

Isro’s announcement of an MoU with Vyom Space comes amid a slew of achievements for the private space sector in India. On November 18, Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace became the first himegrown private space company to launch a rocket into space. A week later, on November 26, Pixxel and Dhruva Space launched their second round of satellites aboard Isro’s latest commercial mission.

Last week, Srinath Ravichandran, chief executive of Agnikul Cosmos, told Mint that the company plans to launch its own rocket — and India’s first orbital private rocket — from Srihariokota, Andhra Pradesh before the end of the year.

Vyom’s Kukreti said that the company’s own module will be reusable, and therefore be an evolution of what the first prototype module of Isro’s manned mission, Gaganyaan, will use. “If you look at Gaganyaan, the modules are all single-use modules, which thus do not have high commercial viability. This is what we seek to offer to Isro’s missions," he said.

While Kukreti refused to disclose funding details of the startup, he admitted that building a space capsule is “a very capital intensive task". However, he claimed that the startup already has “commitments" from private investors around the world.
This sounds like a shell company importing existing technologies from US/EU but marketing it as a 'startup'.
Unfortunately I have run into quite a few of these.
ISRO/etc play along because they get access to these imported products ( which has otherwise become difficult to get because of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' procurement rules ), and also they can say that they are 'supporting a startup'.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by RajaRudra »

Can missiles like Agni be modified to use as satellite launch vehicle. I understand, the missile has a standard life due to wear and tear of carrying around in containers. Not sure what we are doing with those expired missiles. If we can modify those missiles whose expiry date is nearing to put satellites on the orbit.
Then that gives us the opportunity to have more missiles in hand without putting a hole in pocket - as at the end every missile has a launch use and is getting monetized.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by gakakkad »

^ one can be converted to the other. India has highly evolved civilian launch vehicle program that was independently developed from the highly evolved ICBM program. And I am sure our economy has reached a stage where "hole in pocket" is not an issue. probably not necessary for most part. OTOH there might be some military applications for having an intercovertible ABM-ICBM-LV program with the military. like "emergent" launch an EOS or communication or SIGINT satellite during an ongoing war if the existing one was taken down by the adversary or was not there covering a location of interest to begin with.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by ernest »

RajaRudra wrote:Can missiles like Agni be modified to use as satellite launch vehicle. I understand, the missile has a standard life due to wear and tear of carrying around in containers. Not sure what we are doing with those expired missiles. If we can modify those missiles whose expiry date is nearing to put satellites on the orbit.
Then that gives us the opportunity to have more missiles in hand without putting a hole in pocket - as at the end every missile has a launch use and is getting monetized.
It has been done with ICBMs in the past, e.g https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dnepr_(rocket)

But with SSLV, AgniKul, Skyroot, and now Space Fields, that option will be unnecessary and more expensive. Even with those nearing expiry date, they might be more valuable for tests (operational/training/research) than satellite launches. As they get older, the supporting industry diminishes, and you might have to pay very high amounts for the modification. The Small Sat Launch vehicles in production will turn out to be cheaper
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Gaganyaan launch delayed: Manned mission now in 'fourth quarter of 2024'
NEW DELHI: The deadline for the launch of India’s first human flight mission ‘Gaganyaan’ has again been pushed. The Centre has informed that the new launch timeline for the final manned mission has been shifted to the “fourth quarter of 2024”.
Union space minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question on Wednesday that the uncrewed ‘G1’ mission is targeted to be launched in the last quarter of 2023 followed by the second uncrewed ‘G2’ mission in the second quarter of 2024, before the final human space flight ‘H1’ mission in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The Gaganyaan mission was originally scheduled for launch this year to mark India's 75th year of independence. However, it faced several setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic and successive lockdowns. Last December, the space minister had said the manned mission would be launched in 2023. The new timeline of the fourth quarter of 2024 will give Isro enough time to test and prepare its systems and gagannauts for the final manned mission.
Singh said in view of the paramount importance of crew safety, the two test vehicle (unmanned) missions have been planned to demonstrate the performance of crew escape system and parachute-based deceleration system for different flight conditions. He said the first uncrewed flight is aimed at validating the performance of the human-rated launch vehicle, orbital module propulsion system, mission management, communication system and recovery operations. This G1 mission will also carry a humanoid as payload.
The minister said the astronauts (gagannauts) designated for human space flight missions have been identified and are currently undergoing their mission-specific training in Bengaluru. The first semester of gagannauts’ training has been completed wherein they have undergone course modules on theoretical basics, space medicine, launch vehicles, spacecraft system and ground support infrastructure.
Regular physical fitness sessions, aeromedical training and flying practice are also part of the crew training. Corresponding evaluation and assessment activities have also been completed. The second semester of crew training is currently in progress.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by bala »

India is set for launch of man to space. This YT explains the Apollo mission rocketry and the complexity of the system is well explained.

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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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IIST launches programme on hybrid rocket experiments - The Hindu
After launching the first student-built Indian sounding rocket in 2012 and the INSPIRESat-1 satellite earlier this year, the students of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) are eyeing bigger things.

The IIST has proposed experiments in hybrid rocket propulsion technologies as part of hands-on experiments in developing reusable launch vehicle technologies.

The IIST Hybrid Rocket Experiments (IHRX) are designed as a student-driven programme
which will be guided by the institute faculty and senior hands of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The IHRX programme is part of programmes aimed at promoting innovation among the students, IIST officials said.

In simple terms, hybrid rockets use a solid fuel in combination with a liquid oxidiser, tapping into the advantages of both solid and liquid engines. ‘‘There are many ways of intelligently using propulsion. The programme is in the design stage right now. Looking at the small satellite programme, everyone feels we can do something better,’‘ IIST Registrar Y. V. N. Krishna Murthy said.

‘Vyom,’ the sounding rocket built by IIST students, lifted off from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) on May 12, 2012. The 2.31 metre-tall rocket was also India’s first student-built sounding rocket.

IIST students have also been collaborating with the Laboratory of Atmospheric Science and Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder, U.S., on the International Space Program in Research and Education (INSPIRE) which envisions a constellation of earth and space weather observation satellites. The student satellite INSPIRESat-I was successfully launched in February this year.

IIST has also established an Advanced Space Research Group in a bid to strengthen research at the institute which is now into its 15th year.
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ISRO planning second development SSLV flight next month.

The Indian Space Research Organisation is set to test a space-based aircraft monitoring system when it undertakes a development flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in February, according to senior officials.

The SSLV, aimed at launching up to 500 kg satellites in planar orbit, was unsuccessful in its first development flight on August 7 last year.

If successful, the flight will allow ISRO to provide an on-demand satellite launch system.

"I cannot give you a specific date, but we are planning a test flight next month," ISRO chairman S Somanath told reporters here on the sidelines of the 108th Indian Science Congress.

He said India was also planning scientific missions to Mars and Venus besides attempting a land rover to the moon sometime this year.

"The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is almost ready. The orbiter, lander and rover. But we are waiting for the right time to launch the mission, which is sometime in June. We will try to meet that launch window," he said.

A senior ISRO official said the space agency will also test the satellite-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver system onboard the SSLV next month.

"The ADS-B receiver gets all details of an aircraft. Currently, the Air Traffic Controller gets these signals. But there are certain blind spots -- about 30 per cent of airspace across the globe -- where ATC doesn't have access. Now, we have developed a space-based ADS-B technology," D K Singh, Deputy Director, Advanced Technology Area, Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad, told PTI.

He said the space-based ADS-B system will be tested on the SSLV test flight next month.


Singh said the space based ADS-B technology is currently offered commercially by a Canada-based company to aircraft companies, using a payload on the Iridium Next Low Earth Orbit satellite.

Singh said ISRO was also planning to launch GSAT-20 high throughput satellite next year that would facilitate in-flight connectivity for aeromobile services using Ka band.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by RajaRudra »

Some backdoor information regarding the Moon missions.

1) Race for setting up of the stations in lunar poles is picking up.
2) This is to get the maximum sunlight to get the power.
3) Some energy companies are putting their weight for finding the rights places in the lunar surface for setting up the panels.
4) Various potential energy sources are waiting to be analyzed near the craters itself. Too much illumination near the poles during the winter indicates some unknown minerals.

Various power sources are getting considered for the stations.
1) Nuclear reactor - good potential of continuous power generation - reactor life of at least 10 years - Only thing stopping is risk of transport.
2) Solar panels - Cost of power per kw is more than 250$ and they are happy to pay that. Issue is cost of taking the required solar panels to the lunar surface. Maybe spaceX could make it cheaper

One of the other ideas getting coverage is Manufacuring the panels there itself.
1) Moon surface has all that needed for manufacturing the panels. And one of the biproduct of the manufacturing process is oxygen, glass etc.
2) Idea is to take the frames to make the solar panels there (autonomous) and unlimited.
3) There are ways to find the mountains (near the crater) that can get the more sunlight even in the winter.
4) Altimeter + Camera - Sati light is circling the lunar orbit for the last 15 years that with the data bank they can draw a full map of lunar surface visually with the clarity of 10 meters.
5) Solar Panels - will not be like here in the earth but will be kept more circular and can be kept circling the hills - certainly not in a pillar.
6) Who ever reaches the hills are going to own the hills with unlimited power(solar) for usage.
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Largest payload on board mission to study Sun will be handed over to ISRO tomorrow.

In a milestone in the development of space astronomy in India, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has built the Visible Emission Line
Coronagraph (VELC), the largest payload that would fly on Aditya L1, the country's first dedicated scientific mission to study the Sun. It is expected to be launched by Indian Space Research Organisation by middle of this year.

The VELC payload would be formally handed over to ISRO Chairman S Somanath at IIA's CREST campus on Thursday.

"It's a milestone in the development of space astronomy in India," an IIA official said.

Aditya L1 is the first space-based Indian mission to study the Sun from a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L 1) of the Sun-Earth system.This mission with seven payloads on board to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) will provide greater advantage of observing the solar activities and its effect on space weather, according to officials of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

VELC, which the IIA has built at its CREST (Centre for Research and Education in Science and Technology) campus at Hosakote near here, is the largest and one of the most technically challenging of the seven payloads/telescopes that will fly on Aditya L1.

The space solar mission was initially conceived as Aditya-1 with a 400 kg class satellite carrying one payload (VELC), and was planned to be launched in a 800 km low earth orbit.

Since a satellite placed in a halo orbit around the L1 of the Sun-Earth system has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses, the mission was revised to Aditya-L1, and it would now be inserted in a halo orbit around the L1, which is 1.5 million km from the Earth towards the Sun.

The other six payloads are: Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope, Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment, Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya, Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer, High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer, and Magnetometer.

"The scientific studies by the satellite will enhance our current understanding of the Solar Corona and also provide vital data for space weather studies", ISRO officials said.

The VELC payload is an internally occulted solar coronagraph with simultaneous imaging, spectroscopy, and spectropolarimetry channels close to the solar limb.

"Both imaging and spectroscopic observations obtained by VELC payload are key to study the diagnostic parameters of solar corona and dynamics as well as origin of the coronal mass ejections and magnetic field experiments of the solar corona", IIA officials said
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by Varoon Shekhar »

Any news of the RLV-D2 landing experiment( LEX)? It was supposed to be sometime today. Don't tell me it's delayed again!
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Post by gakakkad »

^ wasn't able to find a NOTAM. But don't know if one was necessary as it's just a landing experiment .
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Gaganyaan gets Rs 12,544 cr allotted for space.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday allocated nearly Rs 12,544 crore to the department of space as India plans a human spaceflight -- Gaganyaan -- next year and sets out to explore the moon and neighbouring planets.

The allocation is about 8 per cent lower than the Budget Estimate of Rs 13,700 crore for 2022-23, which was slashed to Rs 10,530.04 crore in the Revised Estimate.

The largest chunk of the allocation -- to the tune of Rs 11,669.41 crore -- has gone to central sector schemes or projects such as the human spaceflight centre and various institutions of the department that deal with launch vehicle and satellite projects, including developmental and operational initiatives.

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-Space), the government's single-window body to deal with the private sector, received Rs 95 crore allocation against Rs 21 crore in the Revised Estimate.

A large portion of the allocation, Rs 53 crore, has been earmarked for capital expenditure for INSPACe.

Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory, which carries out basic research in several areas of experimental and theoretical physics and also builds instruments for science missions, has received an allocation of Rs 408.69 crore against the revised estimate of Rs 411.11 crore in the last fiscal.

ISRO plans to launch Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar mission, in July using the Launch Vehicle Mark-3.

Originally planned to launch in December 2021, India's first human space flight -- Gaganyaan -- has now been put off till the fourth quarter of 2024. However, ISRO plans to carry out uncrewed flights for the project this year.

ISRO has also lined up science missions to the Sun, Venus and Mars.
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Failure Analysis report of SSLV-D1 launched in August is released.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/scien ... 459989.ece
“Detailed analysis of the flight events and observations ranging from countdown, lift-off, propulsion performance, stage separations and satellite injection revealed that there was a vibration disturbance for a short duration on the Equipment Bay deck during the second stage separation, that affected the Inertial Navigation System, resulting in declaring the sensors faulty by the logic in Fault Detection & Isolation software,” states the summary of the failure analysis.
Actual report here in ISRO website:
https://www.isro.gov.in/mission_SSLV_D1_summary_D2.html
SSLV Inertial Navigation System

SSLV uses a newly developed inertial navigation system, MEMS Inertial Navigation System or MINS-6S, which consists of 6 MEMS Gyros (for measuring rotation rates) and 6 Ceramic Servo Accelerometers (for measuring accelerations) assembled in a vibration isolated temperature-controlled assembly. The system is also designed with in-built NavIC receiver and also acts as the MINS navigation computer processor for running Inertial Navigation and Aided Navigation software. A novel algorithm estimates the error in the attitude (orientation) introduced due to the MEMS Gyros, position & velocity of the MEMS INS, using the NavIC data and corrects them, so that mission accuracy is achieved. Knowing the health of accelerometer is of paramount importance for the functioning of MINS, as it is used for attitude aiding. The failure detection logic identifies degraded accelerometer (one or all of 6) and isolate the same for improved mission performance.
During the SS2 separation event, all the six accelerometers inside the MINS package experienced measurement saturation due to high vibration levels for a short duration. The accelerometers got saturated at different time instants, within the 20 millisecond (ms) interval of data sampling, which resulted in different acceleration values being measured by each sensor. This resulted in high residue values (difference among them) beyond a specified limit for a duration of 2 seconds. The software implementing the Fault Detection & Isolation (FDI) assessed that the sensor outputs crossed the pre-set threshold limit and raised the alert/flag for the salvage mission mode initiation, which is a safety approach for mission. However, the accelerometers were found functioning well after this transient event. The salvage mission mode got fully executed without the support of the accelerometer data and injected the satellite to an unstable orbit due to lower injection velocity (~56m/s less than the required 7693 m/s). Though this is as programmed and expected, if kept observing for longer duration, the residue among the sensors would be within limit and failure logic would not have been executed.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by suryag »

Great insights!! again similar to Chandrayaan failure, need of the hour is FMEA, pFMEA, HARA, Fault tolerance, Fail Safe/Operational etc... as you push the cutting edge these items become more important. Am sure we will learn and hopefully it is taught in a course in IIST, IIT, NITs or other deemed univs where an offbeat course can be introduced, given this area needs a full(or maybe 2) semester worth course load.

Course outline could be
1. FMEA
2. Case study 1
3. HARA
4. Case study 2
5. Fault tolerance and Fail Safe/Operational strategies
6. Case study 3
7. Metric calculation methodologies
8. V analysis and FMEA/HARA/Fail Safe&Operational incorporation in requirements stage and following through in design and validation stages
9. Project
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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Nasa-Isro satellite gets 'auspicious' send-off before moving to India.

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar or NISAR, an Earth science satellite being jointly built by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), got a send-off ceremony in California before it ships out to its last stop -- India.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath, JPL Director Laurie Leshin, and dignitaries from NASA headquarters including Bhavya Lal, NASA's associate administrator for technology, policy, and strategy were present at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for the send-off.

"Today we come one step closer to fulfilling the immense scientific potential NASA and ISRO envisioned for NISAR when we joined forces more than eight years ago," Somanath said.

"This mission will be a powerful demonstration of the capability of radar as a science tool and help us study Earth's dynamic land and ice surfaces in greater detail than ever before," he added.

NISAR mission, planned to launch in 2024, is expected to systematically map Earth, using two different radar frequencies to monitor resources such as water, forests and agriculture.

The mission will provide important Earth science data related to ecosystems, Earth's surface, natural hazards, sea level rise and the cryosphere,

"This marks an important milestone in our shared journey to better understand planet Earth and our changing climate," Leshin said.

"NISAR will provide critical information on Earth's crust, ice sheets, and ecosystems. By delivering measurements at unprecedented precision, NISAR's promise is a new understanding and a positive impact in communities. Our collaboration with ISRO exemplifies what's possible when we tackle complex challenges together," added Leshin.

Outside the facility, in front of a scale model of the NISAR satellite, NASA's NISAR Project Manager Phil Barela and ISRO's NISAR Project Director CV Shrikant ceremonially broke fresh coconuts.

The tradition, common in India, often marks auspicious occasions and signifies hope for a smooth road ahead. Leshin also presented the ISRO delegation with a jar of JPL lucky peanuts.

Dignitaries from the US and Indian space agencies witnessed NISAR's science payload in a Jet Propulsion Laboratory clean room.

Somanath, Deputy Chief of Mission, Supriya Ranganathan, Counsellor Space, Krunal Joshi and NASA officials toured the High Bay 2 clean room, where they saw engineers and technicians putting the science instrument payload through final electrical testing.

Since early 2021, engineers and technicians at JPL have been integrating and testing NISAR's two radar systems - the L-band SAR provided by JPL and the S-band SAR built by ISRO.

Later this month, they will move the SUV-size payload into a special cargo container for a 9,000-mile (14,000-kilometer) flight to India's U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. There it will be merged with the spacecraft bus in preparation for a 2024 launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh state.

NISAR will gather radar data with a drum-shaped reflector antenna almost 40 feet (12 meters) in diameter. It will use a signal-processing technique called interferometric synthetic aperture radar, or InSAR, to observe changes in Earth's land and ice surfaces down to fractions of an inch.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by ramana »

Arvin, thanks for the link to the full report.
One learns more from failure than success.
I agree with the six corrective actions:
Change of Separation System

The separation system used for separating Second stage from third stage was based on a Circular Expanding Bellow system which shear the rivets and give axial separation velocity. This system is replaced by well proven Marman band system for separation and springs for giving axial separation velocity. The new system is proven to be generating lesser shock and is already used in the separation of third stage.

{This is a softer separation system. It begs the question as to why the bellows system was chosen. The 10 ms vibration in axial mode shows it was not benign and the structure was soft to get excited with the bellows system. Most likely the separation test on the ground was not adequate.}

MINS FDI logic

The FDI logic based on the accelerometer threshold is modified to evolve a more realistic approach based on the data generated through system-level tests, integrated separation tests, and flight. The accelerometer residue logic checking in MINS is modified to handle transient events. The moving average window is modified so that in case of failure identification of multiple sensors in MINS, checking for a longer duration before setting the salvage mode is implemented.

{Good move to dampen out the transient via sampling.}

Dynamic characterization and design modification of structures

Dynamic assessment of EB & Satellite assembly along with VTM is carried out and structural design is modified to increase the frequency of the structures. Modifications in EB deck & Satellite deck were implemented to minimize response to the observed excitations.

{Exactly as was commented above. The structure needs stiffening and was done.}

Usage of NaVIC data

Further, in case of failure of inertial system sensors, the mission will be progressing using NavIC data in a closed-loop guidance scheme.


{Control logic augmented. Shows the accuracy of NavIC system!}

VTM will be in open loop for salvage mode

In case of failure of inertial sensors and non-availability of NavIC data (for more than 10 sec), an open loop steering guidance will be executed. The propulsive capability of VTM will be considered in this salvage mode also and thrusters will be operated to ensure the minimum required perigee for the mission.

{VTM is in salvage mode and will get the payload to its injection orbit based on the MINS computer in open loop mode. Its like getting to injection orbit with the best effort.}

{Plan D}
In case of failure of inertial sensors and non-availability of NavIC data (for more than 10 sec), an open loop steering guidance will be executed. The propulsive capability of VTM will be considered in this salvage mode also and thrusters will be operated to ensure the minimum required perigee for the mission.

Wow Amazing.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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The uniqueness of the MINS-6S
SSLV uses a newly developed inertial navigation system, MEMS Inertial Navigation System or MINS-6S, which consists of 6 MEMS Gyros (for measuring rotation rates) and 6 Ceramic Servo Accelerometers (for measuring accelerations) assembled in a vibration isolated temperature-controlled assembly. The system is also designed with in-built NavIC receiver and also acts as the MINS navigation computer processor for running Inertial Navigation and Aided Navigation software. A novel algorithm estimates the error in the attitude (orientation) introduced due to the MEMS Gyros, position & velocity of the MEMS INS, using the NavIC data and corrects them, so that mission accuracy is achieved. Knowing the health of accelerometer is of paramount importance for the functioning of MINS, as it is used for attitude aiding. The failure detection logic identifies degraded accelerometer (one or all of 6) and isolate the same for improved mission performance.
It has 6 gyros and 6 accelerometers and an in-built NavIC receiver/MINS computer which corrects any attitude or orientation errors.
And functions even if there is loss of signal now.
The VTM will correct any errors to get to injection orbit.

Truly well-designed with multiple redundancies.
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Isro set to launch second developmental flight of SSLV.

Isro will launch the second developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9.18am on Friday (February 10).

SSLV-D2/EOS-07 would carry three payloads, including earth observation satellite EOS-07, Isro said. EOS-07, which will be the primary payload, is in the 200kg small satellite class. Two more payloads, including Janus-1 from US firm Antaris, will also be flown.

SSLV, in its maiden flight in August, failed to place the satellite in a desired orbit. Isro conducted a failure analysis. The agency, on its website, said, “Subsequent detailed analysis of the flight events and observations ranging from countdown, lift-off, propulsion performance, stage separations and satellite injection revealed that there was a vibration disturbance for a short duration on the Equipment Bay (EB) deck during the second stage (SS2) separation, that affected the Inertial Navigation System (INS), resulting in declaring the sensors faulty by the logic in Fault Detection & Isolation (FDI) software.”

"Considering the clear identification of the cause of the flight anomaly and suggested corrective actions, the next development flight (SSLV-D2) is planned to be executed complying to the recommendations, its satisfactory implementation, review and approval by the authorized committees," the agency said.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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"It has 6 gyros and 6 accelerometers and an in-built NavIC receiver/MINS computer which corrects any attitude or orientation errors.
And functions even if there is loss of signal now.
The VTM will correct any errors to get to injection orbit.

Truly well-designed with multiple redundancies."

Even a dumb layman :-) can see that they have done a lot of work on this, in the 6 months since the first SSLV launch, which itself was a narrow miss. All praise to them. The coming launch on Friday morning in India, looks to be a success, though with space launches, any faulty wire, thruster or leaking valve would affect the mission. Somanath and ISRO are pretty determined to make this launch flawless and a resolving success.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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Can we definitely expect at least one GSLV Mk 2 launch this calendar year? It seems that the NISAR satellite will only be launched in early 2024. What about the new series of IRNSS satellites, and the much awaited GISAT-2. ISRO appears to have gone quiet on these missions. Is there some difficulty in correcting the error in the Mk 2 CUS that led to the failure of the GISAT-1?
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by rajkumar »

Another #BREAKING development from space side: Isro, on Wednesday said it began initial recovery trials of the #Crew Module (CM), along with the Indian Navy, as part of preparations for the proposed human spaceflight mission — #Gaganyaan.

https://twitter.com/ISROSpaceflight/sta ... 0OcKbpaTAQ
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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Varron,
By having six accelerometers the system can detect rotations in addition to the accelerations and thus provide even more redundancy to the gyros.
Its unfortunate that analysis and separation tests did not identify the second-order vibration transient that saturated the readings.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by Varoon Shekhar »

ramana wrote:Varron,
By having six accelerometers the system can detect rotations in addition to the accelerations and thus provide even more redundancy to the gyros.
Its unfortunate that analysis and separation tests did not identify the second-order vibration transient that saturated the readings.
That's wonderful. Eagerly, though with a little trepidation, awaiting this launch! It does look like ISRO chairman S.Somanath has taken a very personal interest in this project, and he felt the disappointment of last summer's mishap a little more than usual. ISRO has put in a great effort in making alterations in this latest vehicle. The next step is to get this rocket into regular production, to obtain a significant section of the commercial launch market.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by Dilbu »

SSLV D2 is about to be launched
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by suryag »

Lets see if the fix works :) JSR
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by Dilbu »

Live video
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by Atmavik »

Lift off Narmall..
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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aaalll naarmalll only
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

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mission accomplished and handing over to mission director(in malayali english)
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by arvin »

All fixes worked as planned. Mission accomplished.
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Re: Indian Space Program: News & Discussion

Post by Dilbu »

Parfaarmance naarmal. Congrats ISRO.
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