Indian Space Programme Discussion

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 26 Sep 2015 19:13

There were multiple issues with Astrosat but now a unique satellite has been designed which has a wode frequency swath.

arun · Post by **arun** » 26 Sep 2015 19:47

Rahul M wrote:I remember first seeing astrosat info-poster in a astro prof's office way back in 2006 IIRC. this is one really delayed project.

You certainly can say that again, Astrosat is one really delayed project. It was supposed to have been launched way back in 2008 as per then already retired ISRO Chairman, Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan per an article dating back to 17 June 2007 in DNA.

Astrosat launch in 2008: Kasturirangan:

DNA

Then it got pushed to 2010:

ASTROSAT to be launched in mid 2010

Then again it got pushed to 2013:

India set to launch Astrosat next year

prasannasimha wrote:There were multiple issues with Astrosat but now a unique satellite has been designed which has a wode frequency swath.

Some of the problems faced from the article linked immediately above:

Astrosat, as with many space projects, has gone through a long journey, starting with its conception and difficult struggles in developing the various instruments for it.

The satellite’s soft x-ray telescope proved to be a huge challenge that took 11 years, K.P. Singh of the TIFR, who was responsible for its development, told The Hindu.

The telescope required 320 mirrors of aluminium that had to be made with great precision and given a fine gold coating. These mirrors were arranged in the form of concentric shells, with struts to hold them in place. The mirrors had to be positioned with an accuracy of 20 microns, which was less than the width of a human hair.

Just getting the mirrors right took about 3 years, remarked Dr. Singh.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 26 Sep 2015 20:09

I have a ASTROSAT poster collected from 2002. It is perhaps delayed by 5 yrs or so in the end, when one understands the complexity of this payload. Similar instruments elsewhere take a decade in the making. For a first attempt this is understandable.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 26 Sep 2015 20:22

More on the Astrosat's soft xray camera
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/ ... 120111.php

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 26 Sep 2015 21:57

Countdown to ISRO's PSLV-C30 launch carrying ASTROSAT satellite begins.

The 50-hour countdown for the September 28 launch of PSLV-C30 carrying ASTROSAT satellite for the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial objects has begun, ISRO said. The countdown activity of PSLV-C30/ASTROSAT Mission started at 8 am on Saturday, Indian Space Research Organisation said.

PSLV-C30 carrying ASTROSAT along with six other co-passengers, one satellite each from Indonesia and Canada, and four nano satellites from the US is scheduled for launch on September 28 at 10 am from the space port of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Mission Readiness Review (MRR) committee and Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) that met on Friday had cleared the launch of PSLV-C30.

Commenting on the launch, ISRO Chairman AS Kiran Kumar had recently said, "What it means for India is this: it is one of the first scientific missions which will be available to the Indian researcher community as an observation opportunity.

This is a starting point for such things." ASTROSAT is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory. This scientific satellite mission endeavours for a more detailed understanding of our universe.

One of the unique features of ASTROSAT mission is that it enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite, ISRO said.

ASTROSAT will observe the universe in optical, ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas most other scientific satellites are capable of observing a narrow range of wavelength band. ASTROSAT with a lift-off mass of about 1513 kg will be launched into a 650 km orbit inclined at an angle of 6 deg to the equator by PSLV-C30.

According to ISRO, after injection into Orbit, the two solar panels of ASTROSAT will automatically deployed in quick succession. The spacecraft control centre at Mission Operations Complex (MOX) of ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bengaluru will manage the satellite during its mission life.

ISRO said 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 to detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky and to perform a limited deep field survey of the universe in the ultraviolet region.

ASTROSAT scheduled for five years of flight carries four X-ray payloads, one UV telescope and a charge particle monitor. 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-are involved in payload development.

Two of the payloads are in collaboration with Canadian Space Agency and University of Leiscester, UK, ISRO said.

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 27 Sep 2015 09:15

PSLV-C30 / ASTROSAT MISSION UPDATE: MON-3, oxidiser filling operation of Fourth Stage (PS4) has been completed by 16:15 hr IST

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 27 Sep 2015 16:24

So the PSLV C30 launch will be Equatorial... as can be deducted from the NOTAM issued to Navy

DTG 181003 Z ROUTINE
FROM NAVAREA VIII CO-ORDINATOR UNCLAS
TO NAVAREA VIII – 621
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDIAN OCEAN – BAY OF BENGAL-ANDAMAN SEA (.) CHARTS 32 33 41 INT 71 INT 706
(.) PSLV LAUNCH SCHEDULED FROM 13-43.9N 080-14.2E FROM 0430-0730 UTC FROM 28 TO 30
SEP 15
2. DANGER ZONE AS FOLLOWS
ZONE 1
CIRCLE OF 10 NM AROUND LAUNCHER
ZONE–2
(I) 13-30N 080-35E (II) 13-50N 080-40E
(III) 13-35N 081-35E (IV) 13-15N 081-30E
ZONE–3
(I) 13-00N 082-25E (II) 13-30N 082-30E
(III) 13-05N 084-15E (IV) 12-35N 084-10E
ZONE–4
(I) 12-30N 084-25E (II) 13-00N 084-30E
(III) 12-50N 085-15E (IV) 12-20N 085-10E
ZONE–5
(I) 11-35N 087-45E (II) 12-15N 087-55E
(III) 12-05N 088-30E (IV) 11-25N 088-20E
ZONE–6
(I) 09-45N 094-30E (II) 10-40N 094-45E
(III) 10-25N 095-35E (IV) 09-30N 095-20E
ZONE 7
(I) 16-00S 134-00W (II) 14-00S134-00W
(III) 11-00S 094-00W (IV) 13-00S094-00W
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 300830 UTC SEP 15
181003Z/SEP

Approx path ( using only 6 North Top corner co-ordinates for plot )

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 27 Sep 2015 16:34

ISRO ‏@isro 5h5 hours ago
PSLV-C30 / ASTROSAT MISSION UPDATE: Countdown activities are progressing normally.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 27 Sep 2015 17:06

Bade wrote:I have a ASTROSAT poster collected from 2002. It is perhaps delayed by 5 yrs or so in the end, when one understands the complexity of this payload. Similar instruments elsewhere take a decade in the making. For a first attempt this is understandable.

plz share photu saarji !

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Sep 2015 18:21

does anyone know when the next PSLV launches are scheduled after tomorrow?

we need 3 more IRNSS sats in orbit to complete the planned 7 and the ISRO schedule lists them right after astrosat but no dates beyond saying 2015-2016

IRNSS-1E
Main article: IRNSS-1E

IRNSS-1E will be the fifth out of seven in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System series of satellites system. Its launch is planned in August 2015.[18] (this did not happen)
IRNSS-1F
Main article: IRNSS-1F

IRNSS-1F will be the sixth out of seven in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System series of satellites system. Its launch is planned in December 2015.[18]
IRNSS-1G
Main article: IRNSS-1G

IRNSS-1G will be the seventh and last of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System series of satellites. Its launch is planned in March 2016.[18]

--
one NDTV reported earlier said all 3 would go up before march2016.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Sep 2015 18:23

secondly what is the movement on designing and manufacturing IRNSS receiver chipsets and getting them into all military vehicles and hand held terminals ? 7 launches and sats cannot be left as a science project and apologetic recessed 'technology demonstrator' - this has to be weaponised and everyone has to use it.

all old strategic and tactical missiles must be reprogrammed or retrofitted with new navigation kit to use IRNSS from next year.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Sep 2015 18:31

this co based in san jose, CA claims to have kit that tracks IRNSS signals
http://javad.com/jgnss/javad/news/pr20141001.html

a canadian co tied up with ISRO to provide reference receivers for the same , in Dec 2013
http://www.novatel.com/about-us/news-re ... d-segment/

isro floated this tender for reference receivers
https://eprocure.isro.gov.in/tnduploads ... /PRSN1.pdf

this cannot be left in the hands of ISRO to use as a scientific project - it has to be deeply deployed into the indian armed forces and civilian agencies including commercial airlines to have any payoff and money and oversight allocated for the same.

https://www.quora.com/Indian-Space-Rese ... -receivers

Manish Chawla, Scientist, ISRO
383 Views • Manish has 60+ answers in Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
No it won't be augmenting the GPS, it will be complementing the GPS. IRNSS Downlink signals are operative in S1 and L5 band. IRNSS shared L5 band with GPS for inter-operatability. The Receivers capable of L5 can track both GPS and IRNSS. Though GPS has just started using L5 signals but in future it may be prime signal for civilian use alongside L1/L2
Even as per ICD circulated by ISRO, ISRO is broadcasting the offset between IRNSS time and GPS and GLONASS

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 27 Sep 2015 19:23

Rahul, it is somewhere in boxes after my last move. Besides, I believe the contents from a decade ago is outdated with several changes. I could not even find it on their official sites or with a wide google search. Best is to go with the details on their current sanctified page.

http://astrosat.iucaa.in/

For people interested in the science side of things.
http://astrosat.iucaa.in/~astrosat/Astr ... tions.html

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 27 Sep 2015 20:20

@singha

2015
December PSLV(CA) C29 - TeLEOS-1 + KR 1 + VELOX C1 + 3 piggybacks (Singapore)

2016
Feb- PSLV(XL) C31 - IRNSS-1E
March - PSLV(XL) C32 - IRNSS-1F

IRNSS 1G????????? ..never heard of

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 27 Sep 2015 21:26

^ IRNSS 1G was supposed to originally launched in nearly 2016 PSLV XL 33 or 34

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 27 Sep 2015 23:11

Does anyone know if a specific ground antenna at Byayalu is going to be used for Astrosat, and whether the antenna was indigenously fabricated?

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 27 Sep 2015 23:27

prasannasimha wrote:^ IRNSS 1G was supposed to originally launched in nearly 2016 PSLV XL 33 or 34

Yes, that would be the 7th and last of the first series of IRNSS satellites. Then, it would be the IRNSS 2A-2G presumably, to replace them.

Originally, they were supposed to have at least one more IRNSS spacecraft launched before December. Now, even that is pushed into the new year.

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 28 Sep 2015 01:25

That seems to be a spectacular astronomy package. When exactly is lift off? This is one mission I want to follow closely.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 28 Sep 2015 01:33

Bade wrote:Rahul, it is somewhere in boxes after my last move. Besides, I believe the contents from a decade ago is outdated with several changes. I could not even find it on their official sites or with a wide google search. Best is to go with the details on their current sanctified page.

http://astrosat.iucaa.in/

For people interested in the science side of things.
http://astrosat.iucaa.in/~astrosat/Astr ... tions.html

was asking for nostalgia value only. if and when you have time and opportunity.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 28 Sep 2015 04:13

ok, can send you a photo-copy when I unpack. Do not want to post it myself.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 28 Sep 2015 07:44

Varoon Shekhar wrote:So far, nothing that indicates that the launch is going to be televised. Not all launches are, I suppose.

I spoke too soon

live telecast on DD National and webcast on ISRO website starting at 09:30 hr IST today.

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 28 Sep 2015 08:23

Varoon Shekhar wrote:Does anyone know if a specific ground antenna at Byayalu is going to be used for Astrosat, and whether the antenna was indigenously fabricated?

Byayulu is for the probes which are very far off.
This ASTROSAT is tied to mother earth @ just 650kms.. so any LEO earth station would do. No need of that biggie.

juvva · Post by **juvva** » 28 Sep 2015 08:39

DD national(TV channel) is live now.

disha · Post by **disha** » 28 Sep 2015 09:08

Link for live telecast?

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 28 Sep 2015 09:10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZCRiNpfB-8

Muns · Post by **Muns** » 28 Sep 2015 09:10

http://www.ddindia.gov.in/Pages/Home.aspx

youtube link on the side.

so far things look good.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 28 Sep 2015 09:25

orbit reached....astrosat separated.

arshyam · Post by **arshyam** » 28 Sep 2015 09:25

Very nice, sat separated on time.

Muns · Post by **Muns** » 28 Sep 2015 09:26

Astrosat separated into precise orbit. Japanese and ls14 placed into orbit too. Jai Hind!

arshyam · Post by **arshyam** » 28 Sep 2015 09:26

Remaining payloads separating.

arshyam · Post by **arshyam** » 28 Sep 2015 09:28

All done. Congrats ISRO for another boring launch

KBDagha · Post by **KBDagha** » 28 Sep 2015 09:29

Great Job ISRO !!!

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 28 Sep 2015 09:30

Great can't wait to see the imageswhen they come

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 28 Sep 2015 09:30

Great Job!! Well done ISRO.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 28 Sep 2015 09:33

astro good!

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 28 Sep 2015 09:37

solar panels deployed...

prashanth · Post by **prashanth** » 28 Sep 2015 09:38

Congrats ISRO!

Bade wrote:solar panels deployed...

Waiting for the first image from Astrosat now...

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 28 Sep 2015 09:46

Activation of all payloads in the next two months. Next satellite is one of the GSAT's. One satellite per month being built at ISAC

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 28 Sep 2015 09:47

Irnss 1E review board to meet soon.

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 28 Sep 2015 09:51

Prof. Yash Pal's enthusiasm at this age is a joy to watch.