Indian Space Programme Discussion

kit · Post by **kit** » 11 Oct 2015 19:41

Today's fiction is tomorrow's reality ..I am sure a reliance joint venture with Spielberg can produce a mega blockbuster on similar lines with an Indian theme

Let's start with a 21st century mahabharat .. it will blow out the star wars sequels in its fight scenes alone

kit · Post by **kit** » 11 Oct 2015 19:44

I think modis party should seriously think about ..you have the greatest potential here to project Indian heritage and civilisation .. other than actually landing Indian astronauts on Mars what's a better way to promote India ?

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 11 Oct 2015 19:54

Bade wrote:

Putting this instrument in a[ll] polar orbiting satellite can be a good monitor for solar flare activity on the cheap to take preventive action on the ground as well as for other orbiting satellites.

It is a good thinking.
But we require a different instrument which can sense remotely the charged particles.
The instrument aboard ASTROSAT measures the particle density of the surroundings that it is having a 'bath'

in.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 11 Oct 2015 21:24

Think polar orbits and the payload put on different polar orbiting sats like the IRS series... like Oceansat/CARTOSAT etc...provided there is space in the bus and other engineering issues that can be addressed. We would still have a 100 min ( or half that) lead time to take preventive action on all satellites, if higher proton rates are detected on one (or more) of the payloads in different orbits. This can be done in real time easily.

No need to have a dedicated geostationary space weather satellite. The sun facing side of the polar orbit will detect the potential danger ahead, even if the first one gets fried in the process.

It can also help save the power grid on the ground. Though it is perhaps more relevant for higher latitude locations than the +/- 30 degree band India lives in.

member_28397 · Post by **member_28397** » 11 Oct 2015 21:53

kit wrote:Today's fiction is tomorrow's reality ..I am sure a reliance joint venture with Spielberg can produce a mega blockbuster on similar lines with an Indian theme

Let's start with a 21st century mahabharat .. it will blow out the star wars sequels in its fight scenes alone

yes right

, Mahabharat will be series of movies, a single series can capture different chapters, like when Maharathi Arjun went to Devalokya and fought for the Devas against Asuras story can start from the tapasya he started for getting Pashupat astra and duel between Mahadev and Arjun will be epic

Hope I see something of this scale in my lifetime.

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 12 Oct 2015 20:55

ISRO started using CZTI by looking to the most obvious target .. the CRAB NEBULA.

A good technical rendering this time ( perhaps because other scientific institutions are also involved ) @ http://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c30-astrosa ... rab-nebula

A lot of calibration still needs to be done to remove the most obvious croma effect.

member_25400 · Post by **member_25400** » 13 Oct 2015 15:01

rgosain wrote:..... the recent film The Martian .... being a vehicle for PRC's soft power projection. In the movie china is seen as the heroic savior of the mission whilst NASA is portrayed as being cynical and unimaginative. Alas SDREs are nowhere to be seen. ...

pandyan wrote:China is a huge market for movies. So studios do some shots about china. I have heard about china funding part of production as well

It's not a hollywood creation or any conspiracy theory. The movie is based on a Hugo award winning book; elements of the story and calculations had been created by the author as a labor of love and posted free on his years before there was even an idea of a published book. The Hugo awards are the premier science fiction prize. The Chinese sub-plot is present in the book and the movie is faithful to it.

One of the key guys at NASA is shown as Indian in the book; the film keeps the last name but casts a white guy there.

The fact remains that when someone wants to show a non-US rival (eg for balance) pulling together for mankind, they tend to pick Russian or Chinese.

Similar dynamics were at play even in the book "2010 A Space Odyssey", which was written by legend Arthur C Clarke (the inventor of the geostationary orbital satellite concept was British but settled in Sri Lanka and took part in the US-India SITE experiment and thus can hardly be accused of favoritism) ; this book had Chinese taikonauts racing to Europa ahead of a joint Russian-American expedition.

China may not have as big space science division or quite the flair and creativity of Indian space science, but they have the infrastructure needed, bigger boosters, big budgets and the systematic plan to keep their achievements high. We don't need to make it a rivalry between India and China. However Chinese space accomplishments are quite respectable as well being independently able to launch humans into space, having a space station in orbit and rockets with higher range/payload than indian ones.

For a layman in USA, China is perceived as the next rival, having manufactured a large %age of world goods and having the economy to match.

In the book the scenario is that China is the only one who is developing a large rocket launch vehicle and has it ready at the time to hit the launch window (not even the US does). The Chinese advise NASA knowing that Chinese science will get hit by the sacrifice of their new launch vehicle, but able to get trade-off in PR, in terms of US access/counteroffers while also pulling together for humanity.

So the portion on the large launch vehicle is a reasonable extension from current reality, where China does have the bigger launch vehicles (second to US and Russia but with more funding than Russia.)

No conspiracy theories are needed ...nor do we need to beat our breasts. When our economy, budgets, technology and aspirations catch up (in a few areas we have), people may naturally bring us to mind. It's not the case yet

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 14 Oct 2015 08:53

Reusable launch vehicle test put off

BENGALURU: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has postponed the test launch of the key reusable launch vehicle technology demonstrator (RLVTD) to next year.

While the earlier test schedule of September was disrupted by the launch of Astrosat, India's first astronomy satellite other launches with societal application have delayed it further.

A source said the focus currently is on putting the payload for GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system which will be put in space by GSAT in November first week and the subsequent Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) launch in December.

"Both these missions have direct societal applications, which Isro feels is important," the source said, reiterating that preparations for the RLVTD test were all ready. The reusable launch vehicle will reduce launching cost to one-tenth of what's incurred now.

Another source pointed out that even the eventual test of the RLVTD will be of a vehicle that's one fifth the original prototype and may not even require the PSLV. "A single-phase rocket will suffice," he said. Isro has already successfully completed testing the crew module, which is important for the human space programme.

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 14 Oct 2015 18:39

I am duly shocked and surprised.

member_23370 · Post by **member_23370** » 14 Oct 2015 19:05

Nothing new or surprising.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 17 Oct 2015 06:48

Can someone please compare GPS iii with GAGAN?http://www.losangeles.af.mil/library/fa ... p?id=18830

Specifically keeping IAF requirements

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 18 Oct 2015 04:01

Antrix begins global pitch for GSLV.

Two months after the GSLV’s second continuous success, ISRO’s commercial arm, Antrix, has started promoting the launch capabilities of the medium lift vehicle among international spacecraft manufacturers.

V.S. Hegde, Antrix Corporation’s chairman and managing director, said there were good opportunities for the GSLV to bid for the many satellites being made in the 2,000 to 2,200 kg class.

“We are in discussions with many satellite manufacturers across the world for the [already established] PSLV and now the GSLV. There is a very good response to the GSLV,” including from U.S. manufacturers, he said on the sidelines of a seminar here on Friday.

The GSLV, he said, could place in space two-tonne communication satellites in the medium-Earth, geosynchronous (36,000 km) orbit; as well as take heavier ones to lower distances.

“Space agencies making two-tonne communication satellites will be very much interested if we can offer the GSLV now, or soon. There is definitely a shortage of launches [of its kind] as 1,000-1,500 small to medium-sized satellites are estimated to go up in the next two or three years for various applications.

In spite of such heavy demand, “We are not commercial; the GSLV and the PSLV have to first meet national needs,” Dr. Hegde said.

The PSLV would launch a 500-kg Earth observation satellite of Singapore ST Electronics in mid-December. The flight would be a full paid launch and carry five smaller Singapore university satellites along.

By 2017-end, Antrix would execute 23 paid PSLV launches, including the 900-kg German environment mapper EnMap.

Antrix, which made business of Rs. 1,800 crore for 2014–15, expects it to touch Rs. 2,000 crore in the current year, Dr. Hegde said

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 18 Oct 2015 05:11

did we get to view any images from the astrosat's optical spectrum yet?

kit · Post by **kit** » 18 Oct 2015 14:36

are there any time lines posted for expansion of the GAGAN to make it fully global ?

Hiten · Post by **Hiten** » 18 Oct 2015 15:50

Kailash wrote:Reusable launch vehicle test put off

Another source pointed out that even the eventual test of the RLVTD will be of a vehicle that's one fifth the original prototype and may not even require the PSLV. "A single-phase rocket will suffice," he said. Isro has already successfully completed testing the crew module, which is important for the human space programme.

what kind of sources are these?
the RLV-TD was anyway not going to use the entire PSLV, just going to fashion 1 of its Strap-on rockets to propel the RLV-TD to LEO, IIRC

so, is the article implying even that isn't going to be used? what will it use? a modified single-stage Sounding Rocket?

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 18 Oct 2015 15:53

It was mentioned that the switching on and calibration etc of data from ASTROSAT sensors will take around 2 months so the optical sensor may take some time.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 19 Oct 2015 17:18

http://isro.org/pslv-c30-astrosat-missi ... -ray-burst

Gamma ray burst detected

Nick_S · Post by **Nick_S** » 20 Oct 2015 04:10

http://isro.org/pslv-c30-astrosat-missi ... al-october

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 20 Oct 2015 04:21

ASTROSAT is systematically getting checked for basic functionality.
====

Charged Particle Monitor (CPM): This is a basic instrument to detect high-energy particles surrounding the satellite body. This info is used to create alerts to the other payloads, for necessary action in case of high particle activity to protect themselves from it.
September 29, 2015, a day after the launch of ASTROSAT, CPM was `Switched ON’ and its performance is normal.
====
Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI): This hard X-ray detector was made fully operational on October 5, 2015.
On October 6, Astrosat was pointed to Crab Nebula for calibration of its detectors. ( Antenna professionals will recall the RF sources used to measure G/T .. Cassiopeia, Cygnus etc. )
As Luck would have it, that same day a Gamma-ray burst, at 09:55:01 UT, named GRB 151006A was detected by another satellite Swift ( from Pennsylvania Univ. ). [ Just for info, GRB 151006A = Gamma Ray Burst dated 2015 10 06 .. A represents 1st incidence of the date ].
The source of this burst was an uncatalogued X-ray source located at RA =147.4256, Dec= 70.5036. Although this location was about 61 deg away from where CZTI was pointing at that instant, the intensity reported by Swift was so high that even at this angular difference the CZTI was sensitive enough to detect it. ( It has a sensitivity of 60 kev while the burst had an emission of 100+ kev in this direction. )
======

The Scanning sky Monitor (SSM) was switched on on the day of launch itself soon after solar panel deployment. After proper calibration process it began regular observations and a first official operations were reported in international community through Astroronomer's telegram (Atel no. 8185) on SSM observations of GRS 1915+105 released on 18 October 2015.
Quoting from Atel :

The Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) on board ASTROSAT was made operational on October 12th, 2015, the 15th day after launch (September 28th, 2015). After initial observations of the Crab Nebula, on October 14th 2015, the SSM was maneuvered for a stare at the galactic Black Hole source GRS 1915+105. Among several bright sources in the SSM field of view (including Cyg X-1, Cyg X-2, Ser X-1), GRS 1915+105 is the brightest with an X-ray intensity of ~2 Crab (http://maxi.riken.jp). GRS 1915+105 is well known for showing very peculiar, but structured X-ray variability of different 'classes' (Belloni et al 2000 Astronomy and Astrophysics 355, 271). During the period of SSM observations (Oct 14, 2015 UT 08:47 to UT 21:45; ASTROSAT Orbit No. 00240 to Orbit 00247), we found the source to exhibit variability of so-called class β. Both soft and hard dips are clearly seen in the light curve of the source. The light curve obtained from Orbit 00242 is available at ISRO web page http://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/fi ... orb242.png
Further analysis is underway to reconstruct the image of the SSM Field of View in order to quantify the X-ray flux of the source. β class variability of GRS 1915+105 is associated with the ejection of material in the form of jets from the Black Hole system, accompanied by radio emission. Follow-up observations in the radio and infrared bands are encouraged.

==== ===
The Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) door was opened successfully on October 15, 2015. It will observe the sky around 25th.
As far as the UV Imaging telescope (UVIT) is concerned The High voltage of Near UV, Visible channel and Far UV channel was switched ON and detectors tested with low gain on 16 and 17 Oct. 2015.

Hiten · Post by **Hiten** » 20 Oct 2015 17:18

ISRO-developed Ion Thrusters

via http://www.aame.in/2015/10/ion-thruster ... ctric.html

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Oct 2015 19:49

Russia Plans to Propose Joint Satellite System to India

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/science/20151020 ... z3p7bYFuPc

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, the 21st India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation is scheduled to take place in Moscow.

"The core of the proposal is a prospective project of renewed Gonets satellite system…As of today, it is at least 48 spacecraft in low orbits, but the shape of the [satellite] constellation can be modified depending on Indian partners' requests," the source said as quoted by the Russian Izvestia newspaper.

The source added that the sides would discuss the joint establishment and operation of a telecommunications satellite network in geostationary orbit intended to provide remote areas that lack online access.

According to the newspaper, communications links between satellites will ensure global coverage and high-speed access to the Internet from anywhere on the planet.

Gonets is a military communications system designed to assist the intelligence in transferring information from compact devices. Gonets is now operating 13 satellites, the media outlet reported.

Russia and India have been close partners in military and technical cooperation for decades. The countries also collaborate in the spheres of science and medicine, as well as infrastructure construction and nuclear energy.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 21 Oct 2015 00:00

can some explain this SAA?

Astrosat gives worrying moments to scientists
Kalyan Ray, Oct 18, 2015, New Delhi, DHNS:

The satellite failed to capture Crab Nebula (in the picture), which is visible even to a small detector.
Indian astronomers spent 72 agonising hours earlier this month as the newly launched astronomical satellite, Astrosat, failed to execute its first task.

A week after its successful launch on September 28, the indigenous space observatory was to capture the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus.
The instrument for the job was Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Imager (CZTI), designed by scientists at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.

It was made fully operational on October 5 and was oriented towards the Crab Nebula.
A quick look at the first set of images, however, brought disappointment as the CZTI didn’t pick up the object. This was surprising as Crab Nebula is the brightest hard X-ray source in the space, visible even to a small detector.

Scientists at TIFR, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune and Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) had no explanation why one of the most photographed object in the sky remained elusive to Indian telescopes.

Theories were debated, discussed and discarded. A tense session of self introspection followed, said an IUCAA scientist. Questions followed one after the other to explain the strange behaviour.

There were some doubts if the mission operation team had put the satellite in right orientation, but the question was too embarrassing even to ask as such a large mistake was not expected from the seasoned hands at Isro. The tense moments, however, ended on October 9 when the Crab Nebula was finally detected by both mission operation centre at Bengaluru and payload operation centre, IUCAA, Pune.

It was later realised that during the first orbit, the Crab could not be detected because the satellite happened to pass through the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region in the space when Crab was in the field of view and the detectors were off.

SAA is a high risk zone for astronomy payloads as they are exposed to several minutes of strong cosmic radiation. The International Space Station requires extra-shielding to deal with this problem.

The Hubble Space Telescope does not take observations while passing through the SAA.
It is thought to be the reason for early failures of the Globalstar network’s satellites in Astrosat deliberately kept the SAA avoidance zone wide to protect the instruments, and detectors were switched off in this interval. When all the data were systematically analysed, astronomers could see the Crab emerging from Earth’s shadow, giving them a sigh of relief. Other Astrosat payloads would now be made operational to look at interesting stars and black holes.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/507 ... tists.html

member_29172 · Post by **member_29172** » 21 Oct 2015 06:29

^^^ Probably the cartoon who wrote that didn't bother doing proper research, this was published 2 days ago, exactly the day when the above farticle was posted

http://zeenews.india.com/news/space/pic ... 12142.html

Bengaluru: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released a stunning view of Crab Nebula captured by the Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI), the hard X-ray detector on board Astrosat.

Also Read: NASA's SDO captures hefty prominence eruption on sun

ISRO tweeted the enthralling blue picture of the Nebula, captured by Astrosat's camera on October 9, 2015, on its official Twitter page.

Astrosat First Light: CZT Imager Looks at Crab Nebula - See more at: http://t.co/9EdFSvv4rb pic.twitter.com/nhDiK8UZA7

— ISRO (@isro) October 12, 2015
The Crab Nebula, which also includes the Crab Pulsar, is the brightest hard X-ray source in the sky, and is very often used to calibrate hard X-ray detectors.

Astrosat, which is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, was succesfully launched into the orbit on September 28, 2015, with its five scientific instruments, aimed at studying celestial bodies.

However, the mission's main goal is to study the massive black hole believed to be existing at the core of the Milky Way.

Also Read: New image shows Pluto's puzzling patterns, pits

During the first orbit, there was a difficulty in detecting the Crab Nebula as the satellite happened to pass through the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region when Crab was in the field of view, explained ISRO.

SAA avoidance zone was deliberately kept wide to protect the instruments, and detectors were switched OFF in this interval during the initial days of Astrosat operation.

When all the data were systematically analysed and data were selected based on the availability of Crab in the detector field of view, one could see the Crab emerging from Earth's shadow, it added.

According to ISRO, the Nebula, detected on october 9, was observed parallely by both Mission Operation Centreat Peenya, Bengaluru and Payload Operation Centre, IUCAA, Pune.

This is only the beginning, with many more events to unfold”, ISRO said.

The life span of the Astrosat mission is of five years.

Download the all new Zee News app for Android and iOS to stay up to date with latest headlines and news stories in Politics, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, Business and much more from India and around the world.

Similar reports have been posted by others
1. http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/scienc ... 774324.ece
2. http://www.techtimes.com/articles/96923 ... nebula.htm

What is SSA?

The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) is an area where the Earth's inner Van Allen radiation belt comes closest to the Earth's surface dipping down to an altitude of 200 km (124 mi). This leads to an increased flux of energetic particles in this region and exposes orbiting satellites to higher-than-usual levels of radiation

Now, what is Van Allen belt?

The Van Allen radiation belts are symmetric about the Earth's magnetic axis, which is tilted with respect to the Earth's rotational axis by an angle of approximately 11 degrees. The intersection between the magnetic and rotation axes of the Earth is located not at the Earth's centre, but some 500 kilometres (300 mi) further north. Because of this asymmetry, the inner Van Allen belt is closest to the Earth's surface over the south Atlantic ocean where it dips down to 200 km (124 mi) altitude, and farthest from the Earth's surface over the north Pacific ocean.

And that's why satellite functions are severely affected in this region, it exposes them to severe radiation and if you read reports about functioning of electronic devices in high radiation areas (Chernyboyl etc.)....

The South Atlantic Anomaly is of great significance to astronomical satellites and other spacecraft that orbit the Earth at several hundred kilometers altitude; these orbits take satellites through the anomaly periodically, exposing them to several minutes of strong radiation, caused by the trapped protons in the inner Van Allen belt

Mostly picked from wikipedia
Cheers

hnair · Post by **hnair** » 21 Oct 2015 10:40

An article written by a dear friend and classmate. Lots of familiar names and despite the crass behaviour of the Govts of India and Kerala, it is a great tribute to the remarkable men and women in that room, that they are still happily applauding their proteges' recent achievements.

Class of 1974: Rocket science & reminiscences

When the scientists who’d developed India’s first liquid propulsion engine assembled for a reunion, it was time travel
Two Saturdays ago, while scientists at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram were busy packing a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for a commercial launch at the end of the month, a 74-year-old man with a long silver mane and beard sat in the lobby of a nearby hotel, doing the countdown for another important event.

S Nambinarayanan, a former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist, was awaiting his team of 1974 that had put together India’s first liquid propulsion engine in Vernon, France, in collaboration with French scientists. Now retired and scattered across the globe, the septuagenarians had planned a get-together more than 40 years after they embarked on the five-year mission that resulted in the Vikas engine. The rocket the VSSC scientists were packing would be the 32nd PSLV to be powered by Vikas. And the names of these veterans, as usual, would find no mention when India celebrates another successful satellite launch.

But that Saturday evening, the class of ’74 had not assembled to crib. By 6pm, Nambi was joined in the lobby by R Natarajan who had worked on liquid propellant storage systems in Vernon, A Chandran, who succeeded Nambi as the team leader in 1978, and H R S Mani, who worked on quality control. As the lobby turned noisy, the old boys moved to the banquet hall. It was an all-male team of 53 that developed the engine in Vernon. Twelve of them were no more. Of the rest, 25 turned up, most with their wives.

Soon, the women – most of them Malayalis – went into a huddle, recalling their adventures in France. Before the team left for Vernon, T N Seshan, then director of ISRO administration, had arranged a month-long tuition in French for the scientists, but not for their spouses. By the end of 1974, the scientists and their families had established themselves as a community in St Marcel, a neighbourhood where the great impressionist painter Claude Monet had lived earlier in the century.

“Remember how we challenged the men that we would learn French in a month?” Nambi’s wife Meena was overheard telling a long-lost friend. This confidence in the women stemmed from their interactions with vegetable vendors and grocers who had made a beeline to the St Marcel Indian community. “At the end of three months however, we only graduated from saying ‘merci’ to ‘merci beaucoup’. And it was the vendors who were speaking Malayalam,” she finished, as laughter turned to shrieks.
“Attention, ladies and gentlemen.” It was Thomas Jayakumar, the master of ceremonies, calling the crowd’s attention. Someone joked that it was the ‘Vernon after-effect’ that made Jayakumar – who was in charge of control systems of the rocket engine at the time – believe he was still a ‘controller’. He wanted each scientist to take the mic and speak for two minutes – “just two minutes,” he reiterated – about the unforgettable days of developing the Vikas engine.

As the veterans – M K Narendranath, S Rajarathinam, M K G Nair, K S Krishnamurthy – spoke about pride and prejudice evident during the development of Vikas, everyone nodded in confirmation. “Every time a PSLV lifts off, I get goose bumps,” said Kailasanathan. “Anybody remembers Nelson,” Chandran asked, of the French driver who drove the Indian scientists around on cold nights, and a score of hands went up.

Whenever the speeches got too serious, instrumentation specialist D Subramanian and IISc alumnus H R S Mani made catcalls a la backbenchers to bring the laughter back. But it all turned poignant when Sivakumari, the widow of scientist Manikantan fought back tears as she reminisced her happier days. “I don’t know how to thank you all,” she sobbed, “for remembering me even 20 years after my husband passed away.”

The group discussed other personal tragedies including scientist SC Ghosh’s wife delivering a stillborn, and another scientist’s daughter being born with a lung problem. After the speeches, scientists D Sarvesan, Manjunath Nayak, Jacob Devadas, P P Kailasanathan, M Parasu Pillai, C Rajappan, D Anandan, Murugesan and Krishnan Potti chatted with Unni Paramangalath, who acted as their office administrator, on how the team meticulously documented their daily experience at the French propulsion facility SEP and dispatched them to India under diplomatic cover. These were to prove invaluable reference material once the team returned to put together India’s first liquid propulsion engine.

As the evening progressed, when the core team members gathered around Nambi, their father figure, references to the infamous ‘ISRO spy case’ of the 1990s were unavoidable. Nambinarayanan was arrested on November 30, 1994 on charges of selling India’s ‘rocket secrets’ to Pakistan through two Maldivian women spies. The scientist was tortured in the custody of the Kerala police and the Intelligence Bureau for 50 days. In 1996, the CBI found the ‘spy case’ a figment of imagination, and found fault with the investigators. The Kerala government ordered a reinvestigation which the Supreme Court dismissed in April 1998.

Team Vernon is convinced it was an international conspiracy to halt India’s leap in space. “Nambi has come out clean, but India lost out on precious years, and ISRO a chairman it deserved,” observes P S Krishnamurthy.

Then, to avert a mournful mood, someone suggested a drink. However the hotel, as per the new Kerala government rules, wouldn’t serve liquor. “But if you have brought your drink, ice cubes are on the house,” announced Nambi. And out came nip bottles and hip flasks. They raised their glasses, and one of them announced: “Now, that’s what you call liquid propulsion!”

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

When Shree Modi met Nambi-sir before the elections, I thought there will be an official redemption. Still hopeful, that Shree Modi will right a grave wrong that, despite these patriot's cheerfulness, should be rectified!

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 21 Oct 2015 17:27

hnair, thanks for posting that. Remarkable & touching.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 21 Oct 2015 17:51

Two more articles in the latest "Frontline", by T.S.S and R. Ramachandran, on Astrosat. Frontline is very impressed by Astrosat, this is at least their 4th and 5th article on the satellite/space observatory!

http://www.frontline.in/science-and-tec ... epage=true

IN just 30 days from August 27, 2015, three events took place that confirmed India’s position as a powerful space-faring nation. They were (1) the Indian Space Research Organisation’s second consecutive success with its indigenously built cryogenic engine aboard the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D6) on August 27, which eliminated India’s de...

http://www.frontline.in/science-and-tec ... epage=true

N the context of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Astrosat mission, which is India’s first space observatory, Frontline met M. Annadurai, Director, ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bengaluru, where Astrosat was built. He elaborated on the challenges involved in building Astrosat, how its...

SSSalvi · Post by **SSSalvi** » 22 Oct 2015 07:37

Thanks hnair for pointing out the article.

This is a 2nd ' 40 year ' reunion of 1st gen guys of ISRO .. A few days ago there was one by SITE team at Ahmedabad.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 22 Oct 2015 12:02

ISRO to launch six Singapore-made satellites in December - PTI, Economic Times

SINGAPORE: India will launch six Singapore-made satellites, including a dedicated 400 kg spacecraft for carrying out surveillance missions for maritime and border security, in mid-December onboard PSLV-C29.

The six satellites will be launched on PSLV-C29 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh on December 16, 2015.

Among them is a 400 kg satellite that can conduct surveillance missions for maritime and border security, The Strait Times reported.

The satellites will then hover about 550 km above ground for up to five years.

The December 16 launch comes four years after Singapore put its first home-grown micro-satellite in space. Since the launch of the fridge-size X-Sat in 2011, smaller satellites have subsequently been launched by Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

This time round, the satellites are being built from scratch by teams from defence manufacturer Singapore Technologies Electronics (ST Electronics), National University of Singapore and NTU.

The 400 kg TeLEOS-1 is the biggest and first Singapore-made commercial earth observation satellite to orbit in space, said ST Electronics communication and sensor systems group president Tang Kum Chuen.

The satellite will carry a camera that can take pictures at ground resolution of up to 1 metre.

Tang said the TeLEOS-1, expected to last up to five years, will also be able to conduct missions such as disaster monitoring, coastal surveillance, urban planning and homeland security.

The other smaller satellites, designed and built by NUS and NTU, will last from between six months and three years.

NTU, which has put four satellites in space, will add three more at the end of the year to monitor tropical climate and test experimental satellite-based communication.

NUS's two new satellites will conduct scientific experiments and analyse the earth's surface.

Dr Tim Huxley, executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (Asia), said the upcoming satellite launch is a "significant step" in Singapore's space programme, which started 20 years ago.

"Singapore recognises the importance of using space technology for all sorts of purposes, from tracking maritime traffic or finding forest fires {the haze from burnt down forests in Indonesia which strikes Singapore for a few months every year}, to military purposes to know what regional countries are doing on land, air and sea," Huxley said.

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 22 Oct 2015 12:17

SSridhar wrote:the haze from burnt down forests in Indonesia which strikes Singapore for a few months every year

<ot>Personally faced this problem while I visited this year. Extremely bad beyond 180/200psi - the smoke chokes the entire country, due to no fault of their own. This is a county which otherwise takes huge pride as one of the cleanest. August-October is time to be be avoided. Just looked up Delhi's numbers - most of the year we have >150psi, and we have only ourselves to blame.</ot>

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 22 Oct 2015 21:04

The Nag sensor used Mercury Cadmium Telluride(MCT) panel. The Astrosat uses Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT).
Can physics gurus discuss the differences?

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 22 Oct 2015 22:55

It is the band-gap differences of the material, which means sensitivity to different parts of EM spectrum. Nag will need something for infra-red being heat seeking I guess...whereas on Astrosat it needs sensitivity for X-rays/Gamma rays.

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.10 ... C12009/pdf
The latter will be useful for medical imaging as a spin-off.

member_23694 · Post by **member_23694** » 24 Oct 2015 17:42

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

U.S. Considers Making it Easier To Launch from India

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 25 Oct 2015 07:41

A meter res pic snapped by Resurs-P No. 2 of an airport in Ahmedabad, India, on Jan. 5, 2015

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/images/s ... port_1.jpg

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 28 Oct 2015 12:00

This is a good article

IAI Targets Smallsat GEO Market With All-Electric AMOS-E

It says using electric propulsion on Sat can reduce its weight by half over conventional propulsion engine

Equipped with an all-electric propulsion system, IAI says AMOS-E will be more efficient and lightweight relative to conventional chemical propulsion systems used on most communications satellites today. Electric propulsion technology can reduce a spacecraft’s mass by about half, lowering launch costs while offering performance similar to large communications satellites.

Is ISRO working on Electric Propulsion for its space craft , Seems a major gain if weight is reduced by Half then GSLV can do the launch for up to 2000 kg type GEO launch

Nick_S · Post by **Nick_S** » 29 Oct 2015 12:17

^Yes, GSAT-4 was launched with ion propulsion but that GSLV launch was unsuccessful.
You can read more here -
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index. ... ic=33770.0

--------------

Oct 26, 2015
Astrosat-Switching on of LAXPC Payload
The Large Area x-ray proportional Counters (LAXPCs, 3 Nos) have been fully powered on 19th October, 2015 and are functioning satisfactorily. The background in all the detectors is normal and stable. An energy resolution of about 11% is achieved at energies >20keV. Observations of Crab and Cas A have been done and other sources are underway.

http://www.isro.gov.in/update/26-oct-20 ... pc-payload

Oct 27, 2015
Astrosat Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) views the blazar PKS2155-304
The Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) camera door was opened on 26 October, 2015. The first object viewed was a blazar PKS2155-304. Blazars are a particular type of quasars which are also high energy gamma ray sources.
The observations from the telescope are fine and SXT instrument calibrations are underway.
http://www.isro.gov.in/update/27-oct-20 ... ks2155-304
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PKS_2155-304

member_28108 · Post by **member_28108** » 29 Oct 2015 22:57

Oct 27, 2015
Astrosat Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) views the blazar PKS2155-304
The Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) camera door was opened on 26 October, 2015. The first object viewed was a blazar PKS2155-304. Blazars are a particular type of quasars which are also high energy gamma ray sources.
The observations from the telescope are fine and SXT instrument calibrations are underway.

navneeet · Post by **navneeet** » 30 Oct 2015 16:22

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thi ... 821248.ece

Navigation satellite system by March

A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said here on Thursday that the constellation of seven satellites comprising the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) would be in orbit by March. The last three of the satellites were scheduled to be launched in January, February and March,

Also some interesting tidbits about the RLV-TD

The RLV-TD (Technology Demonstrator) was undergoing tests at VSSC from where it would be moved to Bengaluru and later to Srikarikotta for the launch.

In the first test flight, RLV-TD, weighing around 1.5 tonnes, would be launched to an altitude of 70 km atop a solid booster rocket and released. Re-entering the atmosphere, the thermally insulated vehicle will travel back to earth in a controlled descent, to be recovered from the sea. ISRO has plans to construct a 4-km runway at SHAR for the RLV to make a horizontal landing in the subsequent flights.

shravanp · Post by **shravanp** » 30 Oct 2015 18:28

From 1-2 launches per year in late 90s and 2000s, to multiples launches in every quarter now, it's a dream come true.

JTull · Post by **JTull** » 31 Oct 2015 14:40

navneeet wrote:
In the first test flight, RLV-TD, weighing around 1.5 tonnes, would be launched to an altitude of 70 km atop a solid booster rocket and released. Re-entering the atmosphere, the thermally insulated vehicle will travel back to earth in a controlled descent, to be recovered from the sea. ISRO has plans to construct a 4-km runway at SHAR for the RLV to make a horizontal landing in the subsequent flights.

I've always been surprised by this lack of runway at SHAR. All the equipment has always been transported by road with BRFites reporting sightings of cocooned satellites on road. Perhaps, in future, an Airbus Beluga type aircraft can be used to transport oversized equipment. Or perhaps by a dedicated C-17 or An-124 for ISRO.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 31 Oct 2015 16:25

A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said here on Thursday that the constellation of seven satellites comprising the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) would be in orbit by March. The last three of the satellites were scheduled to be launched in January, February and March,

and "From 1-2 launches per year in late 90s and 2000s, to multiples launches in every quarter now, it's a dream come true."

Yes, highly impressive, when you think of the days of one launch every year or even less( i.e between PSLV D-2 and D-3, there was 17 months, between D-3 and C-1, it was a year and a half, C-1 and C-2 had a 14 month gap)

If they stick to their declared schedule, it will be fabulous, it would mean one launch every month between Dec/2015 and end-of-March, or 4 satellite launches in 4 months, i.e the launch of 6 sats for Singapore in Dec, and then the IRNSS ones 3 months in a row).