Indian Moon Rockets : First Look

[Choppers]

Indian Moon Rockets: First Look​

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2010

The Preliminary Lunar Manned Mission Concept (Right) showing the launch vehicle architecture. Credit: ISRO

Back in December, Supernova posted the presentation by ISRO at the IAC 2009. A very less known and highly ambitious part of that presentation was the preliminary concept of an Indian Lunar manned mission. The concept in itself is not very detailed but gives us an insight into what ISRO has in store for the future. More importantly, the concept showcases the future UMLV family (Unified Modular Launch Vehicle) being used to loft the crew vehicle. This is the first time that we have had any insight into the possible architecture of the UMLV family, which will be powered by a Common Liquid Core stage in development.

The first thing that strikes when we look at the preliminary lunar concept are the 2 majestic launch vehicles. These launch vehicles, especially the one that launches the Earth Departure Stage (EDS), is a world beyond the capabilities that India possesses today.

ISRO plans to use two rockets for the manned lunar mission. The first will be a crew launch vehicle with the capability to launch 25 tons to Low Earth orbit. This vehicle with a liftoff weight of 1690 tons, would launch the crew module and the service module.

The second rocket will launch the Earth Departing Stage and the Lunar Descent module. This launch vehicle would be a true Super-heavy lifter with a capability to launch 84 tons into Low Earth orbit. The liftoff weight of this beast would 3075 tons.

ISRO has also given some of the technical details about the launch vehicles. The basis for these launch vehicles (as that of the UMLV family) is the new 2ooo kN Semi-cryogenic engine in development. The architecture of the two vehicles would be :

Crew Launch Vehicle
* Architecture - 4 S230 + SC500 + C60
* Capability - 25 tons to Low Earth Orbit

Carge Launch Vehicle
* Architecture - 8 S230 + SC800 + C60
* Capability - 84 tons to Low Earth Orbit

The S230 would be solid boosters with 230 tons of propellants, future descendants of the S200 booster developed for the GSLV-Mk III. The SC500 and SC800 stages would be powered by the Semi-cryogenic engine and containing 500 and 800 tons of propellant respectively. The C60 would be the bleeder expander cycle upper cryogenic stage containing 60 tons of propellant.

The modular architecture of the launch vehicles and that of the whole UMLV family would help in reducing the cost of the rockets. The lunar architecture itself seems to be loosely based on the Constellation Program (which is supposed to be axed this year) architecture.

ISRO is pressing ahead with it's preliminary research on Lunar manned mission irrespective of prospective financial issues of such a high budget mission although the the program itself in full isn't expected to be started anytime before 2020.

Will be back with some analysis on the other part of mission ie beyond the launch vehicles.

SuperNova: Indian Moon Rockets: First Look

 

[Choppers]

Chandrayaan-2 Program updates

Soft-landing scenario on lunar surface. Copyright: ISRO

Rover deployment from the lander after landing on the lunar surface. Copyright: ISRO

Chandrayaan-2, India's next shot to the moon has come a long way since the project was first conceptualized back in first half of this decade. Although some payloads have already been finalized the process is expected to be fully completed in 2 months time. ISRO has had thousands of payload proposals from different countries on the table, from which it will have to finalize the payloads. Afterall the orbiter can accommodate only 50 kg of scientific payload.

The total weight of Chandrayaan-2 at launch will be 2457 kg, this including the lander and the orbiter. The orbiter and lander will be connected by an inter module adapter. The mass of the orbiter will be 1317 kg, of which 830 kg will be propellant for the orbiter and 487 kg will be the actual dry mass of the orbiter. Of 487 kg dry mass of the orbiter, the actual scientific payloads will weigh 50 kg. Only 10 kg of payload space will be open to international space agencies for their payloads.

Now, for the most exciting part. ISRO has gone ahead with the plant soft-land the rover on the lunar surface. The rover will be inside the rover-module of the lunar lander. As explained above the lander will be connected to the orbiter at launch. The total mass of the lander will be 1100 kg.

Out of the 1100 kg lander, 680 kg will be the propellant used for thrusters on the lunar-lander for soft landing. On the lunar surface the lander will weigh 420 kg including the rover and rover-module. Once the lander has landed on the lunar surface the 2 rovers, one Russian and another India will then emerge from the rover-module onto the surface of the moon.

Many of the scientific instruments on the lander/rover have already been finalized. The rover will drill into the lunar soil and obtain samples for analysis. The Regolith Evolved Gas Analyzer (REGA) and Mass Spectrometer will analyze the composition of Lunar soil. Two instruments, a Tunable Diode Laser and a Laser Induced ion Mass Spectrometer will look for the presence of water in the polar shadowed region of the moon.

Presently, ISRO is on-schedule for a 2013 launch of Chandrayaan-2. Chandrayaan-2 will be the stepping stone for a lots of things that in the future that ISRO already has planned for.

SuperNova: Chandrayaan-2 Program updates

 

[xman]

our upper stage semi cryogenic rocket motor , CE-20 will take its first flight this year with GSLV-D3(MKII) in April-May. It would be a great achievement because rest of the Projects depends upon this technology.

 

[Dark Angel]

India To Initiate Activities For Chandrayaan-II

The President said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has plans for the flight test of the GSLV-D3 launch vehicle with indigenous cryogenic stage, and launch the Cartosat-2B, INSAT-3D and Resourcesat-2 satellites in the near future
by Staff Writers
Bangalore, India (PTI) Feb 24, 2010
After a successful maiden moon mission, India will initiate the process for its sequel Chandrayaan-II, President Pratibha Patil said.
"...Activities towards the Chandrayaan-II Mission will be initiated," she said in her address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament here.

Under Chandrayaan-II, space scientists plan to land two robotic rovers on the surface of the moon that would conduct experiments on the lunar soil and send the data back on earth.

Patil said moves were already afoot to further develop the next generation satellite launch vehicle GSLV-Mark III with a capacity to put four tonne satellites in orbit.

Currently, the Indian space agency ISRO's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) has the capability to launch 2.5 tonne satellites.

The President said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has plans for the flight test of the GSLV-D3 launch vehicle with indigenous cryogenic stage, and launch the Cartosat-2B, INSAT-3D and Resourcesat-2 satellites in the near future.

"The space programme continued to provide societal services to the nation in the areas of tele-medicine, tele-education and village resource centres," Patil said

 

[xman]

i think the rest 5% to be accomplished by C-1 now would be left on C-2 and much more.
The mission objectives are very clear. and one of them would be to to locate a place for a descend and other factors during human moon mission

 

[desiman]

There is no stopping India now, Feel so proud when I see what we have achieved and what are potential is. JAI HIND

 

[12345]

If we put all the rhetoric aside,India does have a promising future starting this decade.

All the efforts we did put all these years as a brick by brick ,finished the whole building and is welcoming all to take shade.

Be it missile technology/space/nano tech/bio tech......future is brigth for india and indians IMHO.

And It will make the journey much more interesting once the indian microprocessor rolls out of the foundary.
Indian designed and made computers,processors,super computers,....

This will be the next big industrial revolution for India in one word.

GSLV-MKIII can be scaled upto capable of 7 tonne payload by adding 2 more S200 boosters. Probably we can see this happen by 2015 if need arises.

No doubt Indian space program has came a long way from carrying sats on bullock carts to flying them in transport aircrafts.

I will be making a party only when a RLV puts a sat in orbit and flies back and lands on an ISRO runway.

Of those indian moon rockets ,the 80+ tons will be developed faster,so that many KALI-5000 type and LASTEC-120B type be put into orbits.

Instead of pushing for a deemed space station,ISRO kept on pushing for a Moon base.
May be by 2040-50????

 

[xman]

as we cross 7-8 tones payload capacity may be International Space agencies would call us to Launch parts of International Space station and we can provide that in much economical cost.

 

[Sanchez]

This is indeed a great achievement and plan of India. I wish India a smooth progress and success.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

India might make history with the frist permenent moon landing , might not make it back , now that would be dramatic news

Have the Indians actually returned something back from moon a mock test of the return trip

 

[desiman]

India might make history with the frist permenent moon landing , might not make it back , now that would be dramatic news

Have the Indians actually returned something back from moon a mock test of the return trip

Common azadpakistan dude seriously does one have to troll in every thread. Im soo sick of there types of comment on every single thread, just irritating really.

 

[shchinese]

dear indian friends, please stop posting propaganda material like this. As of today, india still couldn't build rocket without russian engines.

instead of dreaming your moon rocket, how about show me a rocket made in india with indian made engine?

no excuse, no bs please, just want to see a photo showing an indian rocket flying with indian made engine

 

[rajgoynar]

dear indian friends, please stop posting propaganda material like this. As of today, india still couldn't build rocket without russian engines.

instead of dreaming your moon rocket, how about show me a rocket made in india with indian made engine?

no excuse, no bs please, just want to see a photo showing an indian rocket flying with indian made engine

 

[shaktiman2010]

Even after 40 years, NASA knows zero about water, Helium on Moon. There is no proof still today that USA reached moon 40 years back.

So much for fake video clips of NASA.

 

[gowthamraj]

India going to launch 85 tons to space




FIRSt we have to master with 10 tons cryogenic booster. .lols :hitwall