What's new

indian Manned Spaceflight Delayed

houshanghai

FULL MEMBER
Joined
Sep 19, 2009
Messages
1,732
Reaction score
0
Reality Check for Indian Astronauts


gslv-pad-fab-lg.jpg

The shoddy performance record of GSLV has not been suitably resolved by ISRO, India's space agency. GSLV could possibly evolve into a reliable launch system, but it will take a long time to do this


India's decision to stretch out its plans for an indigenous astronaut launch to 2020 or beyond will probably disappoint some. It's a long way in the future, but the decision is an unavoidable reality check for India's space program.

India has been dabbling in the development of an indigenous space capsule for years, and proposed launching such a spacecraft atop its powerful Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), currently the most powerful operational rocket in India.

The first launch was mooted for 2016 or soon afterwards.

The concept looked good on paper, but it overlooked a major problem. Put bluntly, the GSLV is unreliable as a satellite launcher, and is totally unsuitable for launching astronauts.

The shoddy performance record of GSLV has not been suitably resolved by ISRO, India's space agency. GSLV could possibly evolve into a reliable launch system, but it will take a long time to do this.

It will require more flights and evaluations. It will require an unbroken record of several successful launches. Until India can do this, GSLV should not be considered for astronaut launches.

India has also seemed unsure of its plans for co-operating with other nations. It is known that India had been exploring capsule development plans with a major US aerospace corporation.

In a previous article, this writer proposed that India should consider using a foreign launch vehicle with an Indian space capsule, as a means of avoiding the GSLV.

Recent government statements rule this out. India's astronaut launch system will be purely Indian. This will have its benefits, but it will also increase the complexity of the project.

Developing a crew capsule and a reliable rocket to launch it will take time. Giving the project another decade sounds realistic, assuming that the Indian government does not want to pump huge sums of money for a fast-track program.

Previously, the overall tone of discussions on India's astronaut program suggested disorganisation and uncertainty over its direction. It seemed to be more of a panicked reaction to China's success in human spaceflight than a carefully orchestrated project.

This new policy is merely a seed, and has yet to fully develop. But it's a move in the right direction. It remains to be seen if a realistic program can be designed and sustained in the decade to follow.



Reality Check for Indian Astronauts
 
Atleast, one thing is now confirm and that is the crew and the launcher will Indian..huff
We only can hope for next successful launch of GSLV and many more in coming years..
ISRO should work hard to make it as reliable as PSLV is..Good luck to them..
 
2020 is not that late. Just 8 years away. We need to perfect cryogenic engines first. More successful GSLV launches will boost the confidence of ISRO
 
what's new?
no indian plan can be done on time. Just Bla Bla
 
india works different than other countries(read china)
it takes time to approve many things..
 
We are not ready for this.. not now. We simply lack the experience! Why do we always feel the need to impress Great Britain and America? I just want India to go at our own pace. 2020 sounds more likely, but I would give it anywhere from 2025-2040. Right now we just need to keep sending our most talented over to America and Britain to study in their universities. Once India is ready, the mountains will tremble!!
 
A bit disappointed to say the least, but I am sure India will get there be it 2020 or 2030.
 
2020 is only the date for the first selection of astronauts.

It will take several more years at least, to train them to a sufficient level.

And that is even assuming that the Indian Government will be able to make their 2020 deadline for selection in the first place. They don't really have a good track record with deadlines, case in point.
 
The ISRO shouldn't hurry on such projects, its better to have a safe system than to hurry things. ISRO has already done a great job, it should work on improving GSLV and creating a better system of delivery.

---------- Post added at 12:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 AM ----------

2020 is only the date for the first selection of austronauts.

It will take several more years at least, to train them to a sufficient level.

And that is even assuming that the Indian Government will be able to make their 2020 deadline for selection in the first place. They don't really have a good track record with deadlines, case in point.

Personally I think Russian assistance should be taken on this, we have never done a space mission and its better to play safe and take help from some one who have done this before and are doing it.
 
A bit disappointed to say the least, but I am sure India will get there be it 2020 or 2030.

Nothing to be disappointed about Ob, better safe than dead.
We know that we have a long way to go. The GSLV has been a bit of a letdown really. Let us first prove it to ourselves that the GSLV works, every time and that it is totally reliable as is our homemade cryogenic motor. We have to develop a totally reliable heavy rocket first. Every thing else can follow. I really don't understand the need for manned space flights. Here we are trying to develop unmanned vessels to move in the air and underwater but at the same time trying to replicate what USA and Russia did long ago and China has also done. Why is it necessary to move in their footsteps? The human cost of such exploration is enormous, why do we want to pay that price basically to do what someone has already done many decades ago?
 
what's new?
no indian plan can be done on time. Just Bla Bla

I think we couldve done better if some one provided us copied blue prints of soyuz cryogenic engine... just like ur geniuses did...
 

Pakistan Affairs Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom