Indian Space Program: News & Discussion - Sept 2016

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 14 Apr 2019 21:00

Only the lander engineering test model "hurt". Not Vikram itself.

Zynda · Post by **Zynda** » 14 Apr 2019 21:09

I'd say let them take their time with as much testing needed to find it satisfactory before launch. The Israeli launcher recently failed to make it on the moon's surface in one piece.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 15 Apr 2019 03:37

The solid booster on PSLV is smokey and dirty.
Same on GSLV. The solid booster is smokey, firey. Compare with the Vikas engine liquid strapons - clean, nearly smokeless.
If the rocket is high up, the smokey solid rocket engines obscure a good view.

Can't wait for semi-cryo to come along - TV cameras can take good shots.
One reason why Ariane space launches look so good is that the Cryos are not very smokey, specially when they are high up.

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 16 Apr 2019 02:20

Cabinet approves Rs 3,000 crore GSLV phase-4 programme for 5 launches.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Rs 3,000-crore GSLV phase-4 programme under which five geo-orbit satellites will be launched in coming three years from 2021 to 2024. The programme will enable the launch of two-tonne class satellites for geo-imaging, navigation, data-relay communication and space sciences.

Of the five launches, the launch of data relay communication satellite will be significant as it will support the country’s maiden human spaceflight or Gaganyaan programme, whose deadline is fixed in December 2021, and the country’s interplanetary mission to Mars in 2022-23. Once the Gaganyaan and the subsequent Mars spacecraft are launched, the data relay satellite will act as a communication link between the spacecraft in
space and the deep space control room in Karnataka’s Byalalu.

Before the start of the phase-4 programme, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has a slew of important geo missions pending under the phase-3 programme. These include the launch of a new series of remote-sensing satellite geo-imaging satellites (Gisats). Gisat-1 will be launched in September and Gisat-2 in November. Gisat will carry a geo-imager with multispectral (visible, near infra-red and thermal) and multi-resolution (50m to 1.5 km) imaging instruments that will enhance the country’s land mapping capabilities. The satellites will therefore have both military and civilian use.

A series of advanced satellites Gsat-20, Gsat-30 and Gsat-32, which will boost communication capabilites of the country, will also be launched by early next year. While Gsat-20 and Gsat-30, a replacement of Insat-4A, will be sent to space from French Guiana, Gsat-32 will be launched from Sriharikota. Gsat-32 will replace Gsat-6A, which was lost in space after the successful launch due to a communication failure and was meant to mainly serve ground forces.

The Rs 2,729-crore budget for the GSLV ph-4 programme includes the cost of five GSLV rockets, essential facility augmentation and programme management. Two satellites will be launched every year with maximum participation by the Indian industry in the production of the country’s heavy-lift rocket.

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 16 Apr 2019 03:01

Gagan wrote: One reason why Ariane space launches look so good is that the Cryos are not very smokey, specially when they are high up.

The CRyos are not smokey at all, but Ariane uses huge solid boosters, even bigger than the ones on GSLV Mk3.

nachiket · Post by **nachiket** » 16 Apr 2019 03:13

^^Maybe he was thinking of Falcon Heavy, which uses liquid fueled core stage and boosters.

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 19 Apr 2019 00:50

What does the Falcon Heavy have to do in the thread for "Indian Space Program: News & Discussion"?

disha · Post by **disha** » 19 Apr 2019 01:06

Nalla Baalu wrote:
Incidentally, yesterday when I was watching a video of this, YouTube app recommended an amateur video of how SpaceX manages the accuracy. Among other things like restartable motors, fine control thrusters, lattice vanes, most striking part was very structured product development with grasshopper(?) tech-demonstrator that started 6-7 years ago.

Sorry to pour cold water on above fanboi statement, the same statement can be stated for ISRO. Except instead of 6-7 years ago, you can say 40-50 years ago. To be precise under the chairmanship of Prof. Satish Dhawan.

There are now several books on ISRO, but again starting point will be "Wings of Fire"*. That is a must read. Then go on to Vikram Sarabhai, A life by Amrita Shah. There is one that compares the Japanese and Indian Space programs. A good read. And then the publications from ISRO itself. If you find additional books on ISRO (and there are several), please discuss them as well. We want to learn from what you find in those books.

*Anybody asking for who the author of "Wings of Fire" on this forum threads must be summarily banned for 3 days.

nachiket · Post by **nachiket** » 19 Apr 2019 02:06

Vivek K wrote:What does the Falcon Heavy have to do in the thread for "Indian Space Program: News & Discussion"?

Thanks I have moved some posts about Falcon Heavy videos to the International aerospace thread.

Nalla Baalu · Post by **Nalla Baalu** » 19 Apr 2019 17:56

disha wrote:
Nalla Baalu wrote:
Incidentally, yesterday when I was watching a video of this, YouTube app recommended an amateur video of how SpaceX manages the accuracy. Among other things like restartable motors, fine control thrusters, lattice vanes, most striking part was very structured product development with grasshopper(?) tech-demonstrator that started 6-7 years ago.
Sorry to pour cold water on above fanboi statement, the same statement can be stated for ISRO. Except instead of 6-7 years ago, you can say 40-50 years ago. To be precise under the chairmanship of Prof. Satish Dhawan.

There are now several books on ISRO,...

*Anybody asking for who the author of "Wings of Fire" on this forum threads must be summarily banned for 3 days.

Disha saar, my comment was giving background to accuracy managed by SpaceX, that is, they put time and money into it. I cannot see how you take it as criticism of ISRO.

PS: Thanks for reading suggestions. I first read Wings of Fire as soon as it was published and made available at Officers Mess library at Lab Quarters late 1990s.

disha · Post by **disha** » 21 Apr 2019 01:05

^Nalla Balu'ji apologies if I got you wrong. I do have a chip on my shoulder regarding ISRO

(calling me a ISRO jingo*fanboi is still not enough) and cannot stand derision of ISRO (since my own personal/professional trajectory somewhat matches ISRO!).

Having said that, we can always discuss the awesomeness of Musk in international space thread.

hnair · Post by **hnair** » 21 Apr 2019 08:38

No more SpaceX posts and replies, in this thread or warnings will be issued. disha, please report any posts instead of replying

Once again: All non-ISRO news goes to International Aerospace thread

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 22 Apr 2019 03:01

New start up Skyroot Aerospace to become the first Pvt Sector player in India to build Rockets/Launch Vehicles. Targeting Mini satellites market.Ex Isro team are founders with venture funding from Mukesh Bansal/Ankit Nagori. Building 3 different type of Launch Vehicles Vikram I, II, and III. First launch in 2021.

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 22 Apr 2019 08:50

India to get eye in sky to track planes over its ocean.

Come next January and India will be able to know the exact position of aircraft flying over the vast stretches of Indian Ocean falling in airspace of its own as well as that administered by it, every 30 seconds.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has tied up with American company Aireon that with its partners provides space-based global air traffic
surveillance system. On land, planes equipped with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) systems beam their positions to groundbased receivers every few seconds.

India has 30 such receivers, which, in turn, send the positional data to connected ATC monitoring systems, giving exact position of aircraft. But
when over the vast ocean, air traffic controllers (ATC) get only a rough idea of position of aircraft.

"From next January, aircraft with ADS-B system will beam their exact position every 30 seconds to satellites of Aireon system, which will then send the data to our ATC systems in real time. Thus even over ocean we will know exactly where an aircraft is.

We will roll out this system in airspace that we monitor and offer it free of charge to airlines flying and overflying there. That will vastly improve the quality of service that Indian ATC offers," Vineet Gulati, member (air navigation services, and head of AAI's air traffic control told PTI.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 22 Apr 2019 09:02

SSLV projects are like CCday now - everywhere.

the more strategic plays could be building small engines for such projects and also vital components of satellites like imagery sensor, electronics, atomic clocks as even ISRO continues to import a certain % of components for lack of domestic capability.

a faulty swiss made atomic clock from some swiss co took down one of our first IRNSS sats if hawks will recall.

jaysimha · Post by **jaysimha** » 22 Apr 2019 17:44

https://www.dos.gov.in/jul-sep-2004
Space India booklet now on web. for records

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 26 Apr 2019 04:38

ISRO postpones Chandrayaan launch to July.

kit · Post by **kit** » 26 Apr 2019 15:38

https://www.janes.com/article/88098/us- ... capability

I think ISRO uses similar tech ?

jaysimha · Post by **jaysimha** » 29 Apr 2019 15:06

geosmart 2019
three days orientation workshop on geospatial technologies
IIST, Isro thiruvananthapuram
june 12-14 2019
https://www.iist.ac.in/sites/default/fi ... rt2019.pdf

jaysimha · Post by **jaysimha** » 29 Apr 2019 18:11

https://www.orfonline.org/wp-content/up ... -Final.pdf

ORF kalpana chawla annual space policy dialogue
29th april 1st may 2019
new delhi

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 01 May 2019 21:20

https://www.isro.gov.in/update/01-may-2 ... ndrayaan-2

Somewhat good news! More official, ends ambiguity

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 06 May 2019 09:04

India to get another 'eye in the sky' on May 22.

India is set to get another 'eye in the sky' as Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will launch its latest radar imaging satellite (Risat-2BR1) from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on May 22.

Risat-2BR1 is much more advanced than the previous Risat-series satellite."Its launch is due on May 22. Though the new satellite looks same as the
old one from outside, its configuration is different from the earlier one launched. The new satellite, therefore, has enhanced surveillance and
imaging capabilities," a source in Isro told TOI. Risat's X-band synethic aperture radar (SAR) possesses day-night as well as all-weather monitoring capability. The radar can even penetrate clouds and zoom up to a resolution of 1 metre (means it can distinguish between two objects separated by 1 m distance).

"The Risat satellite can take images of a building or an object on the earth at least 2 to 3 times a day," the source said.

Therefore, it can help keep an eye on the activities of jihadi terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and infiltrators at terror launchpads along the LoC.

The new imaging satellite will boost all-weather surveillance capabilities of Indian security forces and will help detect any potential threat around the Indian borders. As the satellite can also track hostile ships at sea, it can be used to keep a hawkeye on Chinese naval vessels in the Indian Ocean and Pakistani warships in the Arabian Sea. The images from old Risat-series satellites were earlier used to plan the surgical strike in 2016 and the air strike on a Jaish camp in Pakistan's Balakot this year.

Risat also enhanced Isro's capability for disaster management applications. After the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, Risat-2 satellite programme took priority over Risat-1 because of the advanced radar system, manufactured in Israel, and was launched in April 20, 2009 to boost surveillance capabilities of security forces. From 536km altitude, the satellite monitors Indian borders 24x7 and helps security agencies keep an eye on infiltrators.

The synethic aperture radar uses the motion of the radar antenna over a target region to provide finer spatial resolution than conventional beam-scanning radars. The distance the SAR satellite travels over a target in the time taken for the radar pulses to return to the antenna creates the large synthetic antenna aperture. Typically, the larger the aperture, the higher the image resolution will be, regardless of whether the aperture is physical (a large antenna) or synthetic (a moving antenna) - this allows SAR to create high-resolution images with comparatively small physical antennas.

jaysimha · Post by **jaysimha** » 07 May 2019 17:54

https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affa ... 56861975-1

Former ISRO Chairman awarded France's highest civilian honour; ISRO to launch 'RISAT 2BR1' – Current Affairs
The award recognises A S Kiran Kumar's invaluable contribution to the development of India-France space cooperation.

I think we should not miss this here

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 10 May 2019 18:49

https://www.isro.gov.in/update/09-may-2 ... n-2-update

Update, details on Chandrayaan-2, 3850kg mass officially confirmed.

prasannasimha · Post by **prasannasimha** » 12 May 2019 08:45

RISAT 2B launch on May 22nd. It has significant strategic implications

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 14 May 2019 22:35

Unusual that the weight of the satellite has not been mentioned even at this relatively late stage. Since the CA version of Pslv is being used, it won't be 1858 kg like Risat-1, but it could be as high as 1000kg(?). No secondary payloads it looks like.

Kakarat · Post by **Kakarat** » 18 May 2019 15:35

Visitors registration for viewing launch of PSLV C-46 is open anyone interested please register

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 22 May 2019 05:48

Guys any live updates just saw the launch from Egmore station

Sagrawal · Post by **Sagrawal** » 22 May 2019 06:01

Textbook launch. All good.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 22 May 2019 06:21

Sagrawal wrote:Textbook launch. All good.

Good to hear

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 22 May 2019 06:49

Yawn! Another textbook PSLV launch! I guess congratulations are on order.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 22 May 2019 06:53

Risat 2B is not some ordinary payload.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 22 May 2019 07:01

All good.

shaun · Post by **shaun** » 22 May 2019 07:04

Mission accomplished. Congrats.

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 22 May 2019 07:08

Aditya_V wrote:Risat 2B is not some ordinary payload.

That was make believe boredom hiding pride!

Sridhar K · Post by **Sridhar K** » 22 May 2019 07:25

I just missed seeing the launch but saw the vapor trail post the launch from MIT ground in Chromepet, Chennai

Karthik S · Post by **Karthik S** » 22 May 2019 07:33

Whaaat? There was a launch today? It's all naarmal?

prasannasimha · Post by **prasannasimha** » 22 May 2019 07:58

Missed launch too but saw recording. ULA type graphic seen during a small portion from screen shot.

jaysimha · Post by **jaysimha** » 22 May 2019 13:26

space India nostalgia

https://www.dos.gov.in/sites/default/fi ... age-1.html

jaysimha · Post by **jaysimha** » 22 May 2019 13:51

https://www.dos.gov.in/sites/default/fi ... age-1.html