Bharat Rakshak

Great going ISRO !

Amber G. wrote:

For the first time, an indigenously developed rubidium atomic clock has been used a
India is strengthening its navigation system.

I (and others) talked about Rb clocks before in some threads.. FWIW, allow me to mention a few points (from basic / physicist point of view). Some may find this as interesting background.

- Buying an rubidium clocks in the US is not difficult. They are commercially available from various manufacturers and suppliers. Cost, of course may vary depending on the specific model, features, and performance requirements. (Costs about a few thousand (to may be a few tens of thousands) dollars.

- Rb clocks are generally more affordable compared to higher-precision Cs atomic clocks (Hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars). This cost advantage in applications where high accuracy is required but not at the level of precision provided by cesium clocks, makes Rb clocks a good choice.

- Rb clocks are highly accurate and stable timekeeping devices.-- Typical short-term stability about 10^-11 to 10^-12, (can maintain time accuracy within a few microseconds over several days) .. Rb clocks generally have a lower long-term stability compared to cesium clocks.

- Cs clocks are considered the most accurate commercial atomic clocks available. They offer superior stability and long-term accuracy, (typically in the range of 10^-14) However, Cs are more complex, larger in size, and more expensive.

- For ISRO's case, Rb clocks provide excellent performance and accuracy- more than sufficient. Their affordability, compact size, and relatively straightforward operation make them favorite .. not only in telecommunications, network synchronization, but even for GPS type applications.

- There are advancements in technology .. newer atomic clock technologies, such as hydrogen maser clocks or optical clocks, may also influence the choice of clocks in future satellite systems. At present Rb clocks works very well.

Are there Caesium clocks that are used in space? the clocks that failed on the INS satellite were Rubidium clocks from Spectratime. Interestingly, the Galileo satellites also had same failures but in addition they had two hydrogen maser clocks: these failed as well. Not sure if they were from Spectratime s well…

What is the accuracy of hydrogen maser clocks?

Tanaji wrote:Are there Caesium clocks that are used in space? the clocks that failed on the INS satellite were Rubidium clocks from Spectratime. Interestingly, the Galileo satellites also had same failures but in addition they had two hydrogen maser clocks: these failed as well. Not sure if they were from Spectratime s well…

What is the accuracy of hydrogen maser clocks?

Yes, cesium clocks have been used in space applications, including satellites. While rubidium clocks are commonly used in satellite systems due to their cost-effectiveness and reasonable accuracy, cesium clocks are employed in missions that require extremely high levels of precision and stability. (GPS type systems)

From what I know. INS satellite experienced failures with rubidium clocks from Spectratime. Galileo satellites, which are part of the European global navigation satellite system, also faced similar failures with rubidium clocks and hydrogen maser clocks. ( I don't know the details or models and manufacturers of the failed hydrogen maser clocks ... not sure they were also from Spectratime)

Hydrogen maser clocks are among the most precise and stable atomic clocks available. They operate based on the hyperfine transition of hydrogen atoms and offer exceptional long-term stability and accuracy. The accuracy of hydrogen maser clocks is typically in the range of 10^-14 to 10^-15, which means they can maintain time accuracy within a few nanoseconds over long periods.

The deployment of hydrogen maser clocks in satellite systems ==> critical need for extremely accurate timekeeping in applications (eg GPS/ s)g. However, it's important to note that despite their high accuracy, hydrogen maser clocks are more complex, larger, and more power-hungry than rubidium clocks. Therefore, their use is often limited to specific missions or applications where the highest level of precision is required.

US GPS system does indeed use cesium clocks.

(Cs atomic clocks are utilized in the US/ GPS system as part of its network of satellites to ensure accurate timing synchronization. Each GPS satellite is equipped with multiple cesium atomic clocks, typically two or more, which serve as primary frequency standards on board. These cesium clocks generate precise time signals that are used to calculate the satellite's position and accurately timestamp the navigation signals transmitted to GPS receivers on the ground)

Slightly different topic but allow me to pay tribute to a great scientist, and a wonderful human being, whom I admired and had privilege to know over decades .. he passed away a few years ago,

Padma Vibhushan Prof. Roddam Narasimha passed in December 2020, Then IISc Aerospace decided to name 0.5 m diameter enclosed free-jet hypersonic wind tunnel after him, and call it the Roddam Narasimha Hypersonic Wind Tunnel. While the name was informally adopted by all, due to Covid, the formal ceremony to name the wind tunnel in honor of Prof. Narasimha was done recently - an apt muhurt just before the recent launch! The event to dedicate the wind tunnel to Prof. Narasimha and formally name it after him as the Roddam Narasimha Hypersonic Wind Tunnel!

ISRO Chair, Shri S. Somanath, and DRDO Chair, Dr. Samir Kamat, participated in the event as chief guests. Shri Somanath was there remotely from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (Shriharikota).. doing multitasking with the next day's GSLV launch .

Along with Prof. Narasimha's family, his former colleagues and students, IISc faculty and several other senior scientists from India's Aerospace R&D establishments..

Credit for the photograph goes to IISc folks (and some SM accounts).

What Makes Chandrayaan-3 ISRO's Most Difficult Mission Yet, and why it's More Than a Technology Feat - ET Prime

Amber G. wrote:Slightly different topic but allow me to pay tribute to a great scientist, and a wonderful human being, whom I admired and had privilege to know over decades .. he passed away a few years ago,

Prof. Roddam Narasimha was indeed a great scientist. I would call him the father of Parallel Computing in India. I think at NAL, the flosolver was initiated by him and he later highlighted it to PM and that started a whole set of parallel computing initiatives in India. Initially, I always thought him as one of the brains behind LCA.

I do remember his name as the investigation lead on the ASLV failures. The third ASLV launch was successful (mostly). Not many know why ASLV is important for Indian Space. Just like there is talk of Rubidium vs Cesium clocks, there was intense discussions on laser ring gyros etc. Point is, the closed loop guidance was first tested on ASLV.

Amber, can you please write up on Prof. Roddam Narasimha. He passed away in the COVID time and the world was beset with its own problems to realize it.

And if you can, will it be possible for you to highlight the contribution of Dr. Narasimha in the ASLV failure analysis that paved the path for PSLV/GSLV today?

Was this posted here?

ISRO's tryst with Methalox engine- LPSC bigwigs being interviewed by Asianet News Malayalam.

Towards 2.47s, Project Director (C25)- K.S. Bijukumar narrates the piece-meal testing of different systems of the Methalox -demo engine (thrust chamber, combustion, turbines, gas generator) first, thus completing the successful test of the whole engine within a year in the first attempt itself. He emphasised that there were NO failures in the whole process.

Director LPSC - Dr. V. Narayanan mentions that 6-7 successful tests have already been completed which have enabled ISRO harness a host of technologies.

https://youtu.be/-5_TCknAT7s

Amber G. wrote:

Tanaji wrote:Are there Caesium clocks that are used in space? the clocks that failed on the INS satellite were Rubidium clocks from Spectratime. Interestingly, the Galileo satellites also had same failures but in addition they had two hydrogen maser clocks: these failed as well. Not sure if they were from Spectratime s well…

What is the accuracy of hydrogen maser clocks?

Amber sir,

its virtually impossible to import OCXO,VCXO and TCXO which give low phase noise from USA . There is a company which makes programmable PLL monolithic ICs. The frequency needed was 120Mhz or so. The company is SiTime. The IC uses PLL concept and one can derive any frequency up to 4th or 5th decimal. They refused to sell it.

ravar wrote:Was this posted here?

ISRO's tryst with Methalox engine- LPSC bigwigs being interviewed by Asianet News Malayalam.

Towards 2.47s, Project Director (C25)- K.S. Bijukumar narrates the piece-meal testing of different systems of the Methalox -demo engine (thrust chamber, combustion, turbines, gas generator) first, thus completing the successful test of the whole engine within a year in the first attempt itself. He emphasised that there were NO failures in the whole process.

Director LPSC - Dr. V. Narayanan mentions that 6-7 successful tests have already been completed which have enabled ISRO harness a host of technologies.

https://youtu.be/-5_TCknAT7s

Hey, that was a really interesting video -- does anyone have any more videos or info on that Methalox engine?

I presume that projects like this demonstrator will be the basis for the future NGLV - hopefully.

Chandrayaan-3 at spaceport; key Gaganyaan development this year: URSC Director

Isro's UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) director M Sankaran on Thursday said in Bengaluru that the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, which Isro is aiming to launch mid-July, has reached the spaceport in Sriharikota and that the space agency has taken all precautions to ensure that the mission is successful.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event here at the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technical Museum, he said: "After the final assembly of payloads at URSC in Bengaluru, the spacecraft has reached Sriharikota and preparation is going. We do expect that sometime in July the launch can take place."
The TOI had reported on May 18 that the final assembly of Chandrayaan-3 was under way and that the space agency was hoping for a mid-July launch.

While Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2, unlike its predecessor, which carried an orbiter along with a lander and rover, Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is a composite of three modules: Propulsion, lander and rover.

While the lander and rover will carry four and two payloads, respectively, the propulsion module, whose job as per initial project plan was to only carry the lander and rover to the lunar surface (until separation), will also have a payload called Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE).

And, Isro has taken a cautious approach in realising Chandrayaan-3 in the backdrop of Chandrayaan-2’s failure to soft-land on Moon in September 2019.

Sankaran said Isri has examined various aspects of what happened to Chandrayaan-2 and all precautions have been taken to ensure Chandrayaan-3 is a success. "Every aspect of the mission has been looked at particularly from the experience that has happened during the Chandrayaan-2 and all possible precautions have been taken," he said. Pointing out that Chandrayaan-3 has been made more robust based on what happened during the previous landing attempt, he said every aspect of the mission has been strengthened. "During Chandrayaan-2 also, we were very hopeful that it would be successful but that is the nature of these missions. The gap between success and failure is so narrow and so thin," he said, adding that the post-flight analysis of Chandrayaan-2 has given Isro a lot of insight.

Further, spelling out details about Gaganyaan, he said "something important connected to the mission" is expected to take place by the end of this year.

"As you know, Ganagayaan is an intense mission with a lot of new development and activities taking place. Many tests are happening which are not visible to the public but a lot of work is going on and we do expect that there will be something which will be visible to people during this year," Sankaran said.

India's NavIC satellites offer 3-metre positioning accuracy, ISRO chairman tells WION

India's NavIC (Navigation for Indian Constellation) series of satellites offer a positioning accuracy of three metres, ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath told WION. He added that the position accuracy would vary if the signals are weaker and not all satellites are available. However, he said that the navigation, positioning and timing services offered by Indian satellites are superior, considering the architecture being used.

He further told WION that ISRO has the means to make the service global, as and when required.

"NVS series of satellites will sustain and augment the NavIC with enhanced features. This series incorporates L1 band signals additionally to widen the services. For the first time, an indigenous atomic clock will be flown in NVS-01," ISRO had said.

Highlighting the need for the indigenous navigation system, Somanath pointed out India's vast landmass, large population, booming digital services and business opportunities, and stated that it is important to have independent systems for navigation, positioning and timing.

Further, he touched upon the strategic perspective and said that India's armed forces are protecting the nation's borders and they require their own secured services for positioning, navigation and timing, thus giving them strategic autonomy.

ISRO's current series of NavIC satellites were placed in orbit in a phased manner between the years 2013 and 2018 using PSLV rockets. All satellites in the first-generation NavIC series weighed 1,425 kg and carried foreign-origin atomic clocks.

All IRNSS/NavIC series satellites carried two types of payloads – navigation payload and ranging payload. The navigation payload transmits signals for the determination of position, velocity and time. Rubidium atomic clocks are part of the navigation payload of the satellite. The ranging payload of these satellites consists of a C-band transponder which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite.

Speaking to reporters after the successful GSLV-F12/NVS-01 mission, Somanath said that only four of the existing fleet of seven NavIC satellites were operational now.

Instead of replacing the three defunct satellites of the old generation, ISRO is launching a fleet of five next-gen NavIC satellites, of which NVS-01 would be the first, he added.

The rationale behind launching a new fleet of five satellites is due to the fact that the existing constellation would be defunct in a few years (owing to the completion of mission life). Hence, it would not be prudent to replace the old fleet. It is expected that two next-gen NavIC satellites will be launched every year.

Great! A example of the Indian aviation sector blazing a trail in innovation!

The flight from Juhu to Pune made use of the GAGAN satellite technology that enhances accuracy, allowing for high quality air traffic management. Congratulations. (This kind of demonstration, from what I was told - was first in Asia and this for a helicopter! ).

Dilbu wrote:India's NavIC satellites offer 3-metre positioning accuracy, ISRO chairman tells WION

For commercial GPS systems, using ordinary navigation devices (say smartphones), the accuracy can vary depending on several factors.. but just for perspective:

in US (US/GPS) they commit to an accuracy of under 4 meters horizontally and 5 meters vertically.
In Europe,( Galileo) the claim an expected accuracy of under 1 meter.
Russian GLONASS about 2-4 meters in open areas.
India NavIC - formerly IRNSS said to provide accurate positioning users within the Indian region, with an expected accuracy of better than 20 meters --(but better for some regions.. depending on many other factors eg quality or receiver itself) Accuracy is obviously changing with more robust systems etc..

As signals are encrypted, and for use of the military the system is *much* more robust and accurate - details, obviously will not be publically available.

(Historically - US did not want to provide more than 20 m accuracy for aam janata but thanks to Clinton administration they decided to provide better accuracy even in un-encrypted part of signal)

What is important that with the use of ground base stations and other techniques like DGPS - even ordinary people (if they are willing to spend extra money) can see *much* better accuracy ...at centimeter (or even millimeter) level.

(DGPS involves the use of reference stations with known positions that receive GPS signals and calculate the errors in the satellite signals. These error corrections are then transmitted to the GPS receiver, which applies them to improve the accuracy of the positioning calculations. The reference stations can be set up at known locations and equipped with highly precise receivers and antennas, allowing for more accurate error calculations.

By employing DGPS, accuracy improvements of sub-meter or even centimeter-level positioning can be achieved. These high-precision systems are typically used in professional surveying, geodesy etc - where one needs better accuracy.

In the US,NGS operates the Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network, which consists of ground-based reference stations spread across the country. These stations provide real-time GPS data and enable users to achieve high-precision positioning by accessing the differential corrections through the NGS network.

Of course the same techniques could and would also be applied with Navic systems --and with these if an IAF directs something at a target the accuracy would be much greater.

ISRO Chief, S. Somnath, shares New Details About Chandrayaan-3, Aditya L-1, Gaganyaan Missions

^^^ Thanks. Worth watching...

bala wrote:ISRO Chief, S. Somnath, shares New Details About Chandrayaan-3, Aditya L-1, Gaganyaan Missions

Really like that guy - hope he succeeds in achieving NGLV for India, through private partners.

Amber G. wrote:Slightly different topic but allow me to pay tribute to a great scientist, and a wonderful human being, whom I admired and had privilege to know over decades .. he passed away a few years ago,

Prof. Roddam Narasimha was indeed a great scientist...

Amber, can you please write up on Prof. Roddam Narasimha. He passed away in the COVID time and the world was beset with its own problems to realize it.

And if you can, will it be possible for you to highlight the contribution of Dr. Narasimha in the ASLV failure analysis that paved the path for PSLV/GSLV today?

Thanks. Obviously such type writing is a good idea..but as you know, it does not happen that often (as much as many think it ought to happen) in Indian newspapers..or in brf by my experience .. From what I seen, a few times I did that in Physics or math dhaga, I found that there is a lack of interest and sometimes, such posts get trolled or even scientists get trashed..May be environment may change in the future.

^ Amber, give it a try. It is for Prof. Roddam Narasimha and not for you or me. I can help you do a write up.

^^^
Sorry, no offence intended to you personally but if I can be blunt, BRF is not a place. Indian scientists are routinely demonized/trolled (and you sir, are as good as anyone here to do that) ad hominem insults and what not. Countless examples - even the most reputable scientists are not immune to this. (And, no I am not talking about some isolated criticism here or there, just the ridiculous attacks which has no basis)

I have posted some stories in Physics/Math dhaga over time - not without much notice/interest but they were at-least not trolled. Once in a while I do post some important news item here or stories/anecdotes about scientists here in Brf.

True, not many mainstream news-paper in India (or US for that matter) are really interested in science/scientist - can't do much about that.

----
PS The naming ceremony in his honor was not exactly a secret, but a public event hosted bu IISc and others - so those who are interested in knowing more can do so.

I didn't know where to put this - so I put it here



Do we have a Private Space Industry thread?

Chandrayaan-3 integration soon, Gaganyaan abort mission may slip to August.

Isro chairman S Somanath on Thursday said that the integration of the launch vehicle — the GSLV-Mk3 or LVM3 — and the spacecraft of the Chandrayaan-3 mission will begin soon at India’s spaceport in Sriharikota.

“All the stages of the launch vehicle have reached the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota and the spacecraft has also moved there. The initial operations of checking the satellites both the propulsion module and the lander-plus-rover are going on now. After some initial preparation they will get integrated and get into the vehicle. The rocket is in the testing phase and integration will happen at the end of this month and it will be fully ready,” Somanath said.

Reiterating that the agency was looking at a mid-July launch, Somanath refrained from spelling out the launch date.

“We will follow the same path [to reach Moon post launch] as we did for Chandrayaan-2 as we have done it and know how to do it. The landing site for Chandrayaan-3 too will be the same (region) as we targeted for Chandrayaan-2,” he said.

On the mass reduction because the propulsion module on Chandrayaan-3 doesn’t carry as many payloads as the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter did, he said: “...The mass we saved on propulsion module has been added to the lander as we included more fuel to the lander new equipment and have strengthened it.”

Gaganyaan Abort Test In Aug?

On Gaganyaan, Somanath indicated that the first abort mission on the special test vehicle could slip to August. “...May be the first of the test missions is going to happen in August although we had initially thought about doing it in July. Such delays happen when things are being done for the first time,” he said.

After the first mission, he said Isro will have the second one by the end of this year, which will be followed by an uncrewed mission possibly by the beginning of next year.

“Launch vehicle human-rating has been successfully completed, manufacturing is happening and industries are delivering the crew module and other systems. For me, eight major tests are there and if all of them are successful without any glitches then the human mission will be in 2024-25 timeframe but if I face challenges, which is quite natural, I have to discount the schedule,” he said.

Further, stressing on the safety aspect of Gaganyaan, Somanath said the redefined approach taken by Isro to add redundancies and validate all systems and subsystems will ensure success in the very first attempt.

“While the pandemic caused some delay in the programme… we also have a different thinking now. We do not want to rush. The primary objective of the human space mission is a safe mission and our redefined approach will achieve success in the very first attempt. For this we’ve enhanced testing and demonstration substantially and that involves additional abort missions.”

While the agency is aiming for an August launch of Aditya-L1, India’s first solar mission, Somanath said, missing this window would push the project to next year.

Announcement coming soon on 'Hava' rocket testing facility: ISRO Chief.

ISRO chairman S Somanath on Thursday said there will be an announcement soon about the space agency's testing facility with regard to the hypersonic air breathing vehicle 'Hava'. The space scientist, however, emphasises that ISRO was not focused on air breathing technology because it wants to deal more with space.

Air-breathing engines are those that take in air from its surroundings in order to burn fuel, such as jet engines. It is therefore not suitable for space travel as there is no air/atmosphere in space. "We are also developing a new rocket 'Hava' to fly at a hypersonic speed for 200-plus seconds. You will also hear some announcements soon about our testing plant with the new fuel for air breathing," Somanath told reporters here.

'HAVA' stands for Hypersonic Air Breathing Vehicle with Air Integration System. Replying to a query on the progress made on air breathing technology, Somanath said ISRO is looking at it not as an immediate input for any rocket but as a technology capability.

"If air is there, that is not space," Somanath explained. "ISRO is not much into air breathing technology primarily because we don't want to dwell in air, we want to go to space. But we develop the technology because it is a very high-end technology in terms of capabilities that we have in terms of combustion etc. So we are testing the engine.

We are testing in our Mahendragiri facility where we have established a hypersonic test facility," he added. Regarding new generation launch vehicles (NGLV), Somanath said ISRO is building an architectural rocket, and a big team from various centres is working on it. "The team has come out with a preliminary report on how this rocket should look like, what are the technology inputs, what are the approaches that we have to do, where we should do, what manufacturing everything is addressed. We want it to be partially reusable. We should use the new generation propulsion and engine."

To a question, Somanath ruled out any Russian dependence on cryogenic engines. "There is no Russian dependence in our cryogenic engines. It is 100 per cent Indian by now. It was there maybe 15 years. We are not dependent on Russia for any inputs including components. Whatever we had purchased from Russia have all been replaced by Indian equivalent components. It is already done," he said.

The ISRO chairman said that after the Russian collaboration, a new indigenously developed engine called C-25 was developed in ISRO, which he, as Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), qualified and launched multiple times. About the semi-cryogenic engine, Somanath said ISRO is developing one to replace the LVM-3 or Launch Vehicle Mark-III, previously known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III or GSLV Mk III. According to him, it is a 200-tonne engine, which ISRO has been developing for the past 15 years. "This engine has now reached the first powerhead. The assembly has already been done. We have built a huge test facility. It was commissioned just last month and we have installed it and done the first ever propellant feed into it (sic). So it's successful now," the ISRO chief said.

He added that in another few days the first firing of the engine will take place, followed by six to seven tests, which will take place every two weeks under different conditions. If the tests are successful, the next phase will be to work on the hardware, Somanath said.

He also explained that ISRO had initially planned to conduct the tests in Russia and Ukraine because they had the facilities to conduct the tests, but now due to war those locations are not accessible. "Now the geopolitical situation does not allow us to go there," Somanath said, explaining that it made the space agency accelerate the construction of such a facility in India. "I am happy that the industry is supporting us so much to build a huge facility, which has just been commissioned he said.

Vips wrote:
He added that in another few days the first firing of the engine will take place, followed by six to seven tests, which will take place every two weeks under different conditions. If the tests are successful, the next phase will be to work on the hardware, Somanath said.

.

Can someone explain what the "hardware" means in the above statement?

ISRO and the Indian Navy firm up the Crew Recovery Training Plan for Gaganyaan Mission

May 26,2023

Recovery Operations for the Gaganyaan mission took a major step forward with the release of the Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan at the Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) at INS Garuda, Kochi on May 24, 2023. The training document was jointly released by Vice Admiral Atul Anand, Director General of Naval Operations, Indian Navy, Dr. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, (VSSC) and Dr. Umamaheshwaran R, Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO

The document highlights the training plan for the recovery of the crew module for the mission. It defines overall requirements with respect to training of various teams participating in Recovery operations viz.marcos, parajumpers, medical specialists, technicians etc. The Recovery training is planned in incremental phases starting from unmanned recovery to manned recovery training in harbour and open sea conditions. The overall recovery operations of the crew module are being led by the Indian Navy in coordination with other maritime agencies

The Crew Module Recovery Model was formally handed over to Indian Navy at Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) at INS Garuda, Kochi. The mass and shape simulated mock-up will be used for familiarisation and training of Gaganyaan recovery teams. WSTF is equipped with its state-of-the-art facility in the new avatar with a team of highly qualified divers all set to assist ISRO by undertaking a series of trials and fine-tuning of Standard Operating Procedures to train the crew and recovery team of Gaganyaan

India's Samudrayaan project on track, construction of manned submersible vehicle apace: Kiren Rijiju.

India's mission to send a manned submersible vehicle to a depth of 6,000 metres to explore the sea, as part of the Samudrayaan project, is
progressing as scheduled and the vehicle will be ready soon, Union Minister for Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday.

The indigenous mission, which the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) here is working on, will involve three people going to a depth of 6,000 metres under the sea in the submersible vehicle called 'Matsya 6000'.

"The Samudrayaan, comprising manned and unmanned exploration, is a very critical effort started by the ministry of earth sciences. The unmanned mission has gone beyond 7,000 metres, while the submersible for the manned mission is under construction," the minister said.

"I will be overseeing the progress of the construction with our scientists and engineers. I hope we will complete it on time," the minister told reporters here after speaking at the World Ocean Day celebrations at NIOT.

He said India will have to play a critical and leadership role in exploration of the ocean and develop resources in a sustainable manner for a balanced ecosystem.

"Similar to space exploration, we need to go deeper into the ocean and do research. We must be prepared to go much deeper and make India proud. Life in the ocean and life on the land are directly connected," Rijiju said at the event and called upon people to rededicate themselves on World Ocean Day to contribute in a much better way to humanity.

"We must build our future more secure and enrich ourselves with better knowledge systems, live with dignity and respect
nature. God has been kind to us. Whatever has been gifted to us through nature must be preserved," the minister said.
Rijiju, who earlier in the day launched a coastal cleaning drive at Besant Nagar here.

Differences between Chandrayaan-3 compared to Chandrayaan-2

ISRO partners with Tata Elxsi to strengthen capabilities for Gaganyaan Mission

MONEYCONTROL NEWS JUNE 08, 2023 / 08:34 AM IST

Tata Elxsi, on June 7, announced a partnership with ISRO for its Gaganyaan Mission to deliver Crew Module Recovery Models (CMRM). The Gaganyaan project by ISRO aims to showcase the ability for human space travel by launching a crew into a 400-kilometre orbit for a three-day mission and safely returning them to Earth by landing in the Indian sea waters.

A crucial aspect of this project is ensuring the crew's safe recovery in the shortest possible time.

Simulation

To train the recovery team, Tata Elxsi has developed CMRMs that replicate the mass, centre of gravity, outer dimensions, interfaces, and external features of the real Crew Module.
Tata Elxsi has effectively handled design, structural analysis, material procurement, fabrication, load testing, and transportation of the CMRM and Ground Support Fixture (GSF) as per ISRO's requirements.

The project served as Tata Elxsi's entry into space mechanical design, as it was the first time ISRO outsourced the mechanical design and development work for a critical system to an external partner.

Manoj Raghavan, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Elxsi, said, "It is a matter of great pride for Tata Elxsi to play a role in the Gaganyaan Mission. This collaboration will help push the boundaries of technology, and provide us a unique opportunity to advance our capabilities while strengthening India’s space mission. Our design, technology, and regulatory capabilities over the years have been a testament to our success which has led us to this milestone."

According to a company statement, currently, two Recovery-Models, CMRM and GSF, have been delivered to Naval training teams at Kochi and Visakhapatnam to train the recovery teams.


Read Full Report From Here//
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india ... 59521.html

rags wrote:

Vips wrote:Can someone explain what the "hardware" means in the above statement?

I think he means the stage

A newer and better rocket is coming!

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/scien ... 946403.ece

ISRO Readies Plan for Next Generation Launch Vehicle

The architecture for Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO), ambitious Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) has been finalised, ISRO chairman S. Somnath has said.



Speaking to presspersons at the SMOPS-2023 International Conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations here on Thursday, he said that the team working on the NGLV programme had already submitted a preliminary report focusing on what the rocket should look like.

“A big team is working on it at various centres and they came out with a report on how this rocket should look, what are the technology inputs, what are the approaches we should do, where we should do, manufacturing everything is being addressed,” Mr. Somnath said.

He added that ISRO wanted the NGLV to be partially reusable and that the boosters should be reusable.

“We should use new generation propulsion, we must have cryogenic propulsion also in case we need to improve payload and it must be manufacturable using the materials currently available in India. The cost should be brought down, the manufacturing cycle and industry should be looked at. After this process we are going to consult with every industry before we take up the project,” the ISRO chief added.

He said that the industry would be asked if they could accept the responsibility, and NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, would discuss it with the industry.

“If the industry is willing, they will be onboarded to be a shareholder and partner in this process where they get to be a responsible partner in designing and manufacturing. We will create a business model for funding,” he added.

Mr. Somnath said that the NGLV would be offered as a commercial launcher vehicle, for both governmental, and private use.

“This is the plan; it may take maybe five to 10 years given that new rocket development is a long-drawn process. But one big advantage is we have the facilities necessary to develop it today right now. This means development can happen without much investment,” Mr. Somnath said.

Chandrayaan 3 to be launched between July 12 and 19, ISRO discloses

In a major step to boost India's mission to the moon, ISRO will launch Chandrayaan-3 between July 12 and 19 this year, tests go as per plan, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath. The Chandrayaan has already reached the launch pad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, from U R Rao Satellite Centre.

"The final preparations are going on. It will be completed by the end of this month. The rocket, LVM-3, is going to be used for this launch and its assembly is going on. All parts for its assembly have reached Sriharikota. It will be launched between July 12 and 19," said ISRO chairman S Somanath.

To avert any kind of failure and delay in the launch program, a few corrections have been made in Chandrayaan-3, in its hardware structure computers, software, and sensors.

India's lunar mission is strengthened with a larger fuel capacity and stronger landing legs. To cater to the need for large energy consumption big solar panels have been fixed on Chandrayaan-3, with an additional sensor. The satellite and the launcher also consist of a ‘Laser Doppler VelociMeter’ instrument. It was developed in the last year.

The system is upgraded with new software and an updated algorithm to ensure a safe and smooth landing of Chandrayaan. The updated system will help Chandrayaan to land in another area in case of failure to land at the scheduled spot.

The three objectives of the space mission are to demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments. As per ISRO, the propulsion module will carry the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit. It will have a Spectropolarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

The launcher identified for Chandrayaan-3 is GSLV-Mk3 which will place the integrated module in an Elliptic Parking Orbit (EPO) of size 170 x 36500 km.

Gujarat aerospace firm launches first remote sensing satellite via SpaceX rocket
Surendra Singh / TNN / Jun 14, 2023, 07:36 IST

NEW DELHI: In a boost to the Indian space startup industry, Gujarat-based aerospace firm Azista BST Aerospace
launched its maiden satellite, Azista BST Aerospace First Runner (AFR), also called ABA First Runner, on Tuesday. The
satellite was launched as part of the Elon Musk-led SpaceX Transporter-8 mission, atop a Falcon 9 rocket, from Space
Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, at 2.49am (IST).

Azista BST Aerospace is an Indo-German satellite manufacturing joint venture floated by India’s Azista
Industries Pvt. Ltd (70% stake) and Berlin Space Technologies GmbH (30% stake). AFR is equipped with an optical remote sensing payload with both panchromatic and multispectral imaging capabilities. The satellite will provide a panchromatic image with 5-metre resolution with a swath of 70km. It is the first satellite of its size and performance built by the private space.
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Company MD Srinivas Reddy Male, in a statement, said the“launch of AFR marks an exciting beginning to support therealisation of satellite constellations for various applications”.

Azista is pioneer in design, development and manufacturingsatellite and satcom application products for massapplications. It also manufactures satellite sub-systems likeRF telemetry, TT&C transceiver, solar panels, RF & DC cablesand harness. Its team is experienced with INSAT, GSAT, RISAT,IRNSS series of Isro satellite payload, ground checkoutsystems and automatic test equipment systems for massproduction.


Read full report from Here//
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 978703.cms

Is this true? If so, that's pretty abominable and doesn't say anything good about us, since we were sleepwalking through it without raising any alarms publicly.

I'd actually like to see a chart/graph of how many such personnel of ours died each month, for the past 25 years.

My speculation: was it because we'd decided to build our own alternative to GPS, after US denied us access during Kargil War?
Could this decision by us have led to our scientists being targeted for elimination by Pak & China? Let's also not forget that belligerent assh*le Musharraf was in power for the early part of that period.

ISRO’s busy calendar in 2023-24

The year 2023 has been a busy one for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with the space agency already successfully completing four missions successfully in the past five months. While this is a milestone in itself, the space calendar for India will continue to remain packed for the coming months, as some of the biggest space missions—including the much-awaited Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar mission, Aditya-L1, the sun mission, and the uncrewed and crewed missions of Gaganyaan—are also progressing at a promising pace, scientists assured.

ISRO to set up satellite terminals for various applications:

Possible NASA-ISRO collaboration on a future lunar mission, in relation to Artemis:

First abort mission of 'Gaganyaan' to be conducted in August-end: ISRO chairman

PTI Last Updated: Jun 22, 2023, 05:10 PM IST

The first abort mission for India's maiden human spaceflight 'Gaganyaan' would be conducted at the end of August this year, while the unmanned mission to orbit would take place next year, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO), S Somanath, said here on Thursday.

Talking to media-persons on the sidelines of an event at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) here, he said the test vehicle is ready at Sriharikota and the assembly work of the crew module and crew escape system has also begun. "For Gaganyaan, the first and foremost thing is that the abort mission has to be done. For that, we have made a new rocket called a test vehicle, which is ready at Sriharikota.
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The chairman of India's space agency was at PRL to inaugurate Param Vikram1000, a High Performance Computing (HPC) facility or a supercomputer. "Param Vikram-1000 is a new supercomputer installed at the PRL. In terms of computational capabilities, it is 10 times faster than Vikram-100 currently in use. Now, PRL scientists have better capability to run their models and computer simulations to support their research work. This will enhance the speed at which the PRL is carrying out its work," Somanath said.


Read Full Story from Here//
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... content=23

India to sign Artemis Accords, send joint mission to ISS says White House
By PTI Last Updated: Jun 22, 2023, 05:05 PM IST

WASHINGTON: India has decided to join the Artemis Accords, which brings like-minded countries together on civil space exploration, and NASA and ISRO have agreed to a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024, the White House said Thursday

“On space, we will be able to announce that India is signing the Artemis Accords, which advance a common vision for space exploration for the benefit of all humankind,” a senior administration official said hours before the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in the Oval Office.

Grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (OST), the Artemis Accords are a non-binding set of principles designed to guide civil space exploration and use in the 21st century. It is an American-led effort to return humans to the moon by 2025, with the ultimate goal of expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond.

The official said that NASA and the ISRO are developing a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation this year.

In addition, NASA and ISRO have agreed to a joint mission to the International Space Station in the year 2024, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On semiconductors, US companies are partnering with India to build a semiconductor ecosystem that promotes supply chain diversification.


Read Full Story from Here//
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 188875.cms

Mollick.R wrote:In addition, NASA and ISRO have agreed to a joint mission to the International Space Station in the year 2024, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

So if ISRO and NASA are doing a joint crewed flight to the International Space Station in 2024 -- then can we presume this joint crew will fly aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule?

How will the crew selection and training be done?

And what will crewmember say when speaking to PM from ISS?
(apart from "Sare jahan se accha...")