Indian Space Program: News & Discussion - Sept 2016

Kakarat · Post by **Kakarat** » 18 Sep 2018 01:02

If i heard and understood it right the GSLV MKIII D2 is expected in the next 15 days and Gsat-11 in December from yesterdays post launch press conference. Isro chairman K Sivan was very exited after Launch success and said a lot of things in short and our wonderful DDM/DSM has come up with this.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 18 Sep 2018 01:26

^ Thanks! I knew I wasn't hearing things! Two ISRO officials,including the very chairman, spoke of the GSLV Mark 3 coming up shortly, one of them expressly used the time frame of 15 days. It looks like the DDM has indeed struck again!

disha · Post by **disha** » 18 Sep 2018 01:36

ISRO needs to have its own TV channel on DD, where everything space related and ISRO related including its launches and recruiting and contracts and requirements and panel discussions with invitees from colleges etc etc etc is discussed. It will put us out of the misery called DDM.

DDM does not know the difference between GSLV and GSAT and GSAT Bus and school bus. In fact when ISRO is going to launch Indians into space, my biggest dhoti-shiver moment will be seeing the Soyuz vehicle in the photos.

I have to lament the fact that ISRO's own pocket rocket and implications of it on the Indian and Global industry and space R&D is not being discussed in any manner.

prasannasimha · Post by **prasannasimha** » 18 Sep 2018 15:23

ISRO is planning to have an ISRO TV just like NASA TV

abhijitm · Post by **abhijitm** » 18 Sep 2018 16:11

prasannasimha wrote:ISRO is planning to have an ISRO TV just like NASA TV

That is great news. Is it official?

prasannasimha · Post by **prasannasimha** » 18 Sep 2018 16:30

It was announced by Dr Sivan some time back. Will have to search gor it.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 18 Sep 2018 18:32

And they need to broadcast their own launches.
The cameras and coverage including coverage by DD Chennai is atrocious !
New generation launch coverage on the lines of what other nations are doing will give a huge push to space technology amongst the common indians and children.

A Nandy · Post by **A Nandy** » 18 Sep 2018 20:21

From what I heard in the post launch conference on youtube it seems that there will be "bimonthly" launches, which can be either 2 per month or once every 2 months

That DD guy needs to just shut up for 10 mins before launch and till satellite sep. Or maybe he can shut up completely. He did shut up at T-1 min but then started blabbering nonsense again just after launch....vishaal wiman gargarate hue aasman ke taraf chal para hai...what crap onlee

SriKumar · Post by **SriKumar** » 19 Sep 2018 07:30

Agree with the need to shut up T-5 min to satellite ejection. They can talk technical details prior to T-10 or T-5 min. If there's any way to get the word out to ISRO on this point I would like to petition them......I prefer to hear 'parfaarmans naarmal' to the 'vimaan ka pratham charan ab prajwalith hua hai aur tezi se faraar ki gathi praapt kar rahi hai' and associated poetry. The pre-launch and post-launch call-outs from mission control are more interesting. (I think they broadcast this audio over a speaker system to civilian areas during launch ...where civilians near SHAR get together to view the launch.).

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 19 Sep 2018 10:40

ISRO makes all Indians proud

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 22 Sep 2018 03:02

'Desi’ GPS module launched: All you need to know.

India is getting its own GPS module. Called UTraQ, the module gets feeds from India Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). IRNSS is an independent, indigenously developed satellite navigation system fully planned, established and controlled by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 22 Sep 2018 06:23

Can you please explain. What does the 'GPS module '
'mean for the common person?

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 22 Sep 2018 07:46

Varoon Shekhar wrote:Can you please explain. What does the 'GPS module '
'mean for the common person?

Today, all the GPS navigation modules you find in smart phones, navigation systems in cars etc are programmed to look up the GPS constellation of USA, get the co-ordinates and determine your position. Now, with the launch of this module, device manufacturers can include it in their devices to get location based on India IRNSS, instead of GPS/Galileo/GLONASS .

Also goes without saying that we can start including this in our defence equipment, so that we don't face threat of other countries degrading their signals over India when we need it the most. Also, GPS has two streams, one for US defence which is more accurate compared to the one for civilians. And they have the option of turning off signals in any part of the world. Our own modules means now our GPS receivers for defence use can have the most accurate positioning. Only thing I am not aware of is whether IRNSS has dual-streams like the one used in US for military and civil applications.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 22 Sep 2018 09:30

Varoon Shekhar wrote:Can you please explain. What does the 'GPS module '
'mean for the common person?

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-i ... ss-2666191

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 22 Sep 2018 14:12

ISRO setting up launch pad for Gaganyaan mission
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ ... 010147.ece

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is setting up a third launch pad at Sriharikota to undertake the Gaganyaan manned space flight programme, an ISRO official said on Friday. In addition, ISRO is scouting for a location on the western sea coast near Gujarat to set up another launch pad for Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLV).

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 22 Sep 2018 14:14

India seeks Russia’s help for Gaganyaan mission to put man in space by 2022
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... RmvaJ.html

kurup · Post by **kurup** » 22 Sep 2018 14:54

dinesha wrote:ISRO setting up launch pad for Gaganyaan mission
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ ... 010147.ece
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is setting up a third launch pad at Sriharikota to undertake the Gaganyaan manned space flight programme, an ISRO official said on Friday. In addition, ISRO is scouting for a location on the western sea coast near Gujarat to set up another launch pad for Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLV).

Why Gujarat ?? The proposed the launch pad in TN will be better .... It will increase the payload of SSLV further

SriKumar · Post by **SriKumar** » 22 Sep 2018 16:54

^^^ Why would the location make a difference to the payload? As far as I can see, the launches from Guj. or TN would be in a polar orbit, since there is land on the eastern side (for both locations). For polar orbits, I dont think proximity to equator matters, does it? Earth's rotational push is useful for eastward orbits. It is probably for some other reason.

kurup · Post by **kurup** » 22 Sep 2018 18:18

SriKumar wrote:^^^ Why would the location make a difference to the payload? As far as I can see, the launches from Guj. or TN would be in a polar orbit, since there is land on the eastern side (for both locations). For polar orbits, I dont think proximity to equator matters, does it? Earth's rotational push is useful for eastward orbits. It is probably for some other reason.

Difference in payload was w.r.t SHAR ..... Almost all ISRO centres are in South India ... So it will be logical to have the launch centre here as well.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 22 Sep 2018 20:27

easy reach to terrorists just across the border? /OT
----
^dinesha's link:

“The two sides discussed threadbare the space cooperation at that meeting and decided to strengthen their ties in the field of joint scientific research and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. In this context, particular discussion took place on the human space programme, including life support system, crew module and astronaut training,” said a diplomat who asked not to be named.

disha · Post by **disha** » 22 Sep 2018 21:05

kurup wrote:
dinesha wrote:ISRO setting up launch pad for Gaganyaan mission
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ ... 010147.ece

Why Gujarat ?? The proposed the launch pad in TN will be better .... It will increase the payload of SSLV further

SSLV is mostly for SSO satellites. Launch of SSO satellites is "cheaper" (or its payload capacity increases for a given unit of 'rocket') as one goes higher in latitude. Best launch platform for Polar SSO sats will be at the poles itself!

However if India launches SSO sats from Ladakh, the booster stages will fall maybe up to Delhi. That is not an option. If one launches from say Dwarka in Gujarat, then there is no land mass all the way to Antartica. In fact, there is zero population all the way to antartica and back into somewhere in pacific on the other side.

So yes, Gujarat is an ideal place to launch SSO sats by ISRO.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 22 Sep 2018 21:13

you are ignoring choto mota islands on the arabian sea

.

disha · Post by **disha** » 22 Sep 2018 21:16

SaiK wrote:you are ignoring choto mota islands on the arabian sea .

No.

kurup · Post by **kurup** » 23 Sep 2018 09:58

disha wrote:
kurup wrote:
Why Gujarat ?? The proposed the launch pad in TN will be better .... It will increase the payload of SSLV further
SSLV is mostly for SSO satellites. Launch of SSO satellites is "cheaper" (or its payload capacity increases for a given unit of 'rocket') as one goes higher in latitude. Best launch platform for Polar SSO sats will be at the poles itself!

However if India launches SSO sats from Ladakh, the booster stages will fall maybe up to Delhi. That is not an option. If one launches from say Dwarka in Gujarat, then there is no land mass all the way to Antartica. In fact, there is zero population all the way to antartica and back into somewhere in pacific on the other side.

So yes, Gujarat is an ideal place to launch SSO sats by ISRO.

Thanks for the reply ..... Can you please explain the bold part ?? Why ??

Trikaal · Post by **Trikaal** » 23 Sep 2018 13:17

^For a polar orbit, the effect of earth's rotation must be cancelled out. The rotational speed decreases as one moves away fron the equator towards the poles. Hence, theoretically, a polar orbital launch would be cheapest at poles. However, the effect isn't that significant since you only need about 160m/s speed in opposite direction to cancel out the effect of earth's rotation, whoch is child's play today. So the cost saving isn't that significant.

Not sure why the SSLV is cheaper by payload though. It's probably because it's smaller so you can make it quickly and economics of scale help lower the cost.

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 23 Sep 2018 17:29

India's manned space mission 2022: Need pool of 30 potential astronauts.

This August 15, India awoke to a promise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which when fulfilled, will put us in an elite company of countries. “We’ll send a son or daughter into space by 2022,” Modi announced, thus approving a project first seriously proposed in 2004.

And, even before his speech concluded at the Red Fort, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), which’ll shoulder the responsibility of executing the proposed Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP)—Modi has named it Gaganyaan+ —got on its feet.

But as its Chairman Sivan K has said at least thrice in the 39 days since Gaganyaan’s announcement, this won’t be an Isro-only mission: “It’ll be a national mission with minds and institutions from all over India contributing.”

One such institution, the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) under IAF, which evaluated tens of candidates before selecting Wing Commander (retd) Rakesh Sharma for his mission in 1984, will be responsible for astronaut selection as confirmed by Sivan.

Besides, Air Commodore Anupam Agarwal, Commandant, IAM, says they’ve offered help in four other crucial areas: Basic and some advance training; human engineering of the crew capsule and the habitat module; assessment of cabin air quality and the flight surgeon support.

And, STOI, in an exclusive visit to IAM got an overview of the preparations and a peek into what the next few years hold.

First things first, the astronaut selection. “...We’ll need a pool of 30 aspirants, of whom, 15 will be picked and given basic training. If the plan is to send three, we’ll shortlist three sets of three (nine) and let one set go about three months before the launch with the others remaining in the programme till launch date. This is my assessment,” Agarwal told STOI.

The selection of astronauts is a complex and long process that’ll take 12-14 months. The basic evaluation that’ll include psychological and medical tests involving a series of checks.

“This’ll take about three months as we have to ensure we pick the best, whose physical condition is among the best in India and they also have the right mental make up. A fixed set of tests will be conducted before selection,” Agarwal said.

After three months, a pool of potential astronauts will be selected who will then undergo a series of rigorous evaluation tests: How they deal with isolation; Can they handle physiological changes occurring during a spaceflight caused by extreme temperatures and otherwise; Disorientation and decision making and so on.

“At this stage the line between evaluation and training gets blurred,” Agarwal adds. Parallel to this, they will be trained on basic biology, physics, systems and even medicine among other things.

Experts from all these fields will be roped in, while IAM will teach them medicine. “They’ll need to take care of each other. They’ll be trained in all basic first aid, and other aspects. Eye injuries are common in space and they can make astronauts critical, while there’s something as simple as vomiting that can cause issues,” he says.

The explosive decompression chamber that simulates various altitudes and helps train situations or accident or malfunction

For all this, IAM has a host of simulators: Systems that can simulate from -20 degree centigrade to 60 degrees; dry flotation simulators that can simulate microgravity, and others like the “head down tilt” simulator for the same purpose. There is a simulator that can create pressure six times that of atmospheric pressure (60 meters depth of sea water) and pressure which levels like those found at one lakh feet, which is one of the definitions of beginning of space. The institute also boasts of a human centrifuge – not too many countries have this – which creates high G-forces. The disorientation simulation, which helps train in 13 llusions that create disorientation, will help in training with motion sickness desensitisation.

Agarwal said the flight surgeon support, a critical aspect of a spaceflight will be provided by IAM. “This is very crucial as each astronaut will have his own surgeon who will be with him from two years before the launch, during his stay at space and until he is recovered upon recovery,” he said.
He said currently the only advanced training that the IAM cannot offer astronauts is that of the systems which need specific simulators – “but this can be developed,” he says – and the complete parabolic flight training, for which India may have to look outside.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 23 Sep 2018 23:23

30 from IAF is possible

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 24 Sep 2018 03:55

Had a long technical response for SriKumar's comments about polar orbits but it looks like my post went into bit bucket. May post later if I think it will be helpful.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 24 Sep 2018 04:15

putnanja wrote:
Varoon Shekhar wrote:Can you please explain. What does the 'GPS module '
'mean for the common person?
Today, all the GPS navigation modules you find in smart phones, navigation systems in cars etc are programmed to look up the GPS constellation of USA, get the co-ordinates and determine your position. Now, with the launch of this module, device manufacturers can include it in their devices to get location based on India IRNSS

I suppose what a layperson really wants to know, is if the IRNSS GPS system is now going to be widely available for public use. The word "module" will probably leave a lot of people confused or uninformed.

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 24 Sep 2018 06:47

Varoon Shekhar wrote:
putnanja wrote:
Today, all the GPS navigation modules you find in smart phones, navigation systems in cars etc are programmed to look up the GPS constellation of USA, get the co-ordinates and determine your position. Now, with the launch of this module, device manufacturers can include it in their devices to get location based on India IRNSS
I suppose what a layperson really wants to know, is if the IRNSS GPS system is now going to be widely available for public use. The word "module" will probably leave a lot of people confused or uninformed.

It will depend on how many devices will start using the module in their navigation systems. Also, GPS has become generic term. Not many people will probably know whether their phone/car nav systems etc are using GPS from US or IRNSS, unless the manufacturer advertises it.

Katare · Post by **Katare** » 25 Sep 2018 07:14

Amber G. wrote:Had a long technical response for SriKumar's comments about polar orbits but it looks like my post went into bit bucket. May post later if I think it will be helpful.

Please do post, it is an interesting question.

SriKumar · Post by **SriKumar** » 25 Sep 2018 07:37

Sure. Will read what you write, Amber.G.
One thing that's interesting is that the linear velocity of earth's surface will keep changing as the satellite traverses north to south and back....so if the satellite wants to stick to one particular longitude it will have to constantly correct for it.

Trikaal · Post by **Trikaal** » 25 Sep 2018 10:28

^Polar satellites don't stick to a longitude. You are thinking of Geosats there.

disha · Post by **disha** » 26 Sep 2018 00:07

SriKumar wrote:Sure. Will read what you write, Amber.G.
One thing that's interesting is that the linear velocity of earth's surface will keep changing as the satellite traverses north to south and back....so if the satellite wants to stick to one particular longitude it will have to constantly correct for it.

Polar sats are Sun-Synchronous. Here is a technical explanation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun-synchronous_orbit

In simple terms, it does not stick to a longitude. Or rather if you imagine that the plane of the orbit of the sat is "fixed w.r.t Sun and always facing the sun", the earth rotates under it.

Katare · Post by **Katare** » 26 Sep 2018 02:29

SriKumar wrote:Sure. Will read what you write, Amber.G.
One thing that's interesting is that the linear velocity of earth's surface will keep changing as the satellite traverses north to south and back....so if the satellite wants to stick to one particular longitude it will have to constantly correct for it.

That is correct, roughly 1 degree/day.

360 degrees in 365 days.

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 27 Sep 2018 13:24

Chandrayaan-2: Several challenges to meet Jan 2019 deadline
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 945202.cms

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), which has set itself a January 3, 2019 deadline for the launch of India's second mission to Moon (Chandrayaan-2) has several technological challenges brought about by the new configuration that it must address. In fact, Isro Chairman Sivan K, after whose taking charge the Chandrayaan-2 project has undergone several changes, says that the Lander designed for the programme was ill-configured and would have led to the failure of the programme.

"You can say that this is Chandrayaan-3 as the project has been reconfigured completely. If we went with the previous configuration it would have been a disaster. They had not thought of so many issues, that are being corrected now," Sivan told TOI. "As things stand, January deadline looks difficult to meet, but as the chairman has said there's a window up to March," one person working on Chandrayaan-2 told said

Among major challenges are the integration of the fifth liquid engine to manage the additional load of the lander which now has to orbit the Moon, lander legs, rover integration, modified harness and so on. Earlier this year, after the changes were made to the configuration, the fifth liquid engine failed a crucial qualification heat test. The Chandrayaan-2 mission will not be possible without this engine.

While confirming this, Sivan had told TOI in August: "The engine is fine, there was a problem with the way the test was conducted. Out of enthusiasm, people did the test wrong. The space system is such that real space environment must be created. But the way this is simulated must be correct, otherwise, there will be a problem. In this case, instead of creating external heat, the engine itself was heated." On Monday, he reiterated that the engine was alright and that it would be ready for the mission soon.

Also, in a recent development, the Rover team has written to the project management team that the new configuration has created a problem for the Rover unloading manoeuvre. According to the feedback given by the Rover team, the new extended solar panels - necessitated by the new configuration - now extends well beyond the body of the lander casting a shadow on the rover when it has to come out of the lander.

One scientist explains: "Although we have a battery, we won't know if that is in charged condition as it would have remained off, so we wanted sunlight. Now, the extension of the solar panel (an additional 350 meters) is casting a shadow, depriving the rover of sunlight during this manoeuvre." Sivan, however, said: "These are design challenges which will be overcome without much problem. It will all be corrected." Sivan has been insistent that the testing of Chandrayaan-2 happen only after the entire configuration is ready. The complete integration is expected to be ready by November 30.

jpremnath · Post by **jpremnath** » 27 Sep 2018 14:30

As far as I am concerned, they can take as much time as they want...no prizes for early launch and no one else is in a race with us to moon..All that matters ultimately is whether we manage a safe landing and the rover manages to roll around..

All the jholawalas, BBC CNN ethyathi and our neighbourhood friendlies will be waiting for even the smallest of a set back during navigation or landing for psy ops...It might even cast unwanted doubts on our manned program...so lets just let our scientists do what they do best...testing everything until they are fully satisfied...

kurup · Post by **kurup** » 27 Sep 2018 15:35

Actually we are on a race with Israel ( a private firm in collaboration with Israeli space agency) to become the fourth country to soft land on moon .

jpremnath · Post by **jpremnath** » 27 Sep 2018 16:13

kurup wrote:Actually we are on a race with Israel ( a private firm in collaboration with Israeli space agency) to become the fourth country to soft land on moon .

Damn!!...I looked upon their project. Planned for Falcon launch and the whole systems on display looks quite complete and on track for a Feb landing. Oh well.!..

Trikaal · Post by **Trikaal** » 27 Sep 2018 16:37

I am fine with us being the fifth instead of the fourth nation. If it was a race for first then things would be different but as it stands right now, a successful mission is more important than a hasty one.