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Indian Space Capabilities

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06-June, 2018 15:21 IST
Continuation Programme for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III

Funding for the for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III (GSLV Mk-III) continuation programme (Phase-I) consisting of ten (10) GSLV (Mk-III) flights, at a total estimated cost of Rs. 4338.20 crores. This includes Rs. 4338.20 Crores and includes the cost of ten GSLV Mk-III vehicles, essential facility augmentation, Programme Management and Launch Campaign.

The GSLV Mk-III continuation Programme – Phase 1 is the first phase of operational flights that will enable the launch of 4 tonne class of communication satellites to meet the country’s satellite communication requirements.

The operationalisation of GSLV Mk-III will make the country self-reliant in the launching capability of 4 tonne class of communication satellites, and sustain & strengthen the space infrastructure and reduce the dependence on procured launches from foreign countries.

The operationalisation of GSLV Mk-III will make the country self-reliant in the launching capability of 4 tonne class of communication satellites and sustain & strengthen the space infrastructure and reduce the dependence on procured launches from foreign countries.

The GSLV Mk-III Continuation Programme – Phase 1 will meet the launch requirement of communication satellites to meet the national demand for High Throughput Satellites for rural broadband connectivity, increase and sustain the availability of transponders for DTH, VSAT and Television broadcasters.

GSLV Mk-III Continuation Programme – Phase 1 will be the first phase of operational flights of the GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle and the approval will cater to the launch of satellite missions during the period 2019-2024.

Background:

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III (GSLV Mk-III) has been developed towards achieving indigenous launch capability to launch 4 tonne class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). It has completed one experimental flight (LVM3-X) in 2014 and one developmental flight (GSLV MkIII-D1) in 2017. The second developmental flight will be completed by Q2 of 2018-19 this year. The Continuation Programme – Phase 1 will enable independent access to space for 4 tonne class of communication satellites, and establish GSLV Mk-III as a cost-effective workhorse vehicle to launch 4 tonne class of communication satellites in order to meet the national requirements as well as to boost its commercial potential in the international market for launch services.

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AKT/VBA/SH

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Department of Space
06-June, 2018 15:26 IST
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III Continuation Programme – Phase 6

Thirty Operational Flights of PSLV

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Continuation Programme (Phase 6) and funding of thirty PSLV operational flights under the Programme.

The Programme will also meet the launch requirement of satellites for Earth observation, Navigation and Space Sciences. This will also ensure the continuity of production in Indian industry.

The total fund requirement is Rs. 6131.00 Crores and includes the cost of thirty PSLV vehicles, essential facility augmentation, Programme Management and Launch Campaign.

Major Impact:

The operationalisation of PSLV has made the country self-reliant in the launching capability of satellites for earth observation, disaster management, navigation and space sciences. The PSLV Continuation programme will sustain this capability and self-reliance in the launching of similar satellites for national requirements.

The PSLV Continuation Programme – Phase 6 will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency up to eight launches per year, with maximal participation by the Indian industry. All the operational flights would be completed during the period 2019-2024.

The Programme will also meet the launch requirement of satellites for Earth observation, Navigation and Space Sciences. This will also ensure the continuity of production in Indian industry.

PSLV Continuation Programme was initially sanctioned in 2008, and four phases have been completed and the fifth phase is expected to be completed by Q2 of 2019-20. The Phase 6 approval will cater to the launch of satellite missions during the period Q3 of 2019-20 to Q1 of 2023-24.



Background:

PSLV has emerged as a versatile launch vehicle to carry out Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and low inclination Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions. With the recent successful launch of PSLV-C41 on 12th April, 2018, PSLV has completed three developmental and forty three operational flights and the last forty one flights have been successful. PSLV has established itself as a workhorse vehicle for national satellites with a production capacity that would enable responding fast to commercial launch opportunities also.

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Department of Space
09-August, 2018 16:23 IST
More than 200 customer satellites launched in the last four years: MoS Dr Jitendra Singh

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been launching national satellites meant for meeting the earth observation, communication and navigational requirements of the country to cater to various societal needs. The spare capacity available in these missions are being utilized for launching satellites of other countries on commercial basis through Antrix corporation limited, the commercial arm of ISRO. Over the years there has been increase in the number of international satellites that have been launched as co-passengers to the national missions. In the last four years more than 200 customer satellites have been launched. Considering the future launch demand for increased number of nano and small satellites, there are plans to increase the number of PSLV launches and also develop dedicated small launcher to cater to this high market demand.

As on date, 237 foreign satellites belonging to international customers from 29 countries have been successfully launched using PSLV.

Starting from 1993 till date, PSLV has completed 43 launches, of which 2 launches failed. Overall success rate of PSLV has been 95%.

In September 2018, ISRO would launch a PSLV rocket solely for foreign satellites.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Department of Space
09-August, 2018 15:47 IST
Mapping of Rice Cultivation regions

Mapping and inventorying of rice Cultivation regions is carried out by using ISRO developed methodology.

Satellite data is used to assess the Rice Cultivation regions and the post rice Cultivation regions fallow lands. One of the objectives of Bringing Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) scheme is to promote in post rice Cultivation regions fallow areas to increase cropping intensity and income of farmers. The harif rice Cultivation regions area estimate, in 2016-17, was 13.94 Lakh Ha. Preliminary analysis indicates that about 65-70% of harif rice area is left fallow during post rice cultivation season. These are mostly located in the southern districts . About 25-30% of these harif rice fallow lands are found to be suitable for cultivation of short duration pulse crops during post harif season. These are mostly located in the districts which are being identified.


The analysis findings are being provided to the Government/ Department with locations/ maps where Indian farmers can optimise or maximise the utilisation of resources by taking up another or additional crop during the post harif fallow period.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Department of Space
09-August, 2018 15:28 IST
Launching of state of art satellites

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has planned to launch more number of state-of-the-art satellites to further enhance operational applications and cater to the needs of emerging applications.

The details of the state of the art satellites approved for launch till 2019-20 are:

    1. Third generation Cartosat series satellite for very high resolution mapping
    2. Second generation stereo imaging satellite for Digital Elevation Model
    3. Geostationary Imaging Satellite (GISAT) for Earth observation from Geostationary Orbit
    4. Third generation Ocean imaging satellite for ocean colour, sea surface temperature mapping and ocean surface wind vector mapping
    5. Third generation ResourceSat series of satellite with improved spatial resolution and swath
    6. C-band microwave imaging satellite for all weather and day & night imaging
    7. Constellation of high resolution imaging satellites for frequent revisit
    8. Nanosatellite for Aerosol monitoring
    9. Satellite for monitoring chlorophyll fluorescence and radiation environment

The areas requiring enhancement of operational applications, include monitoring of natural resources, crop acreage estimation & production forecasting, monitoring of surface water spread, potential fishing zone forecasting, near-real time monitoring of disasters, high resolution digital elevation model of the country, infrastructure planning & monitoring, and so on.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Department of Space
12-August, 2018 18:53 IST
'Sarabhai Centenary' programmes begin from today

Jammu, Agartala to get Space Research Technology Centres

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed that Jammu will be the first city in North India to get a full-fledged Space Technology Research Centre, devoted to research, academics and post-graduation study. The Centre will function under the aegis of the Central University Jammu. In addition to Jammu, the other town selected for opening a Space Technology Research Centre is in the Northeast in Tripura, where it would function under the aegis of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Agartala. This was disclosed on the occasion of the beginning of year-long "Sarabhai Centenary" programmes of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), starting from today, that is, the 99th birth anniversary of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the first Chairman of ISRO and the founding father of India's Space Programme.

Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that Dr Vikram Sarabhai always insisted on ISRO playing a meaningful role “nationally” and said it was a vindication that during the four years of the Government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we had succeeded in extending the Space related academic and research programmes to remote areas, which earlier had little exposure to the study of Space Technology.

The Centres of Space Technology at Jammu and Tripura, Dr Jitendra Singh said, will offer a new opening and an opportunity for scholars and youngsters who have aptitude for Space science, to explore a new career and research option.

Dr K Kasturirangan, Honorary Distinguished Advisor, ISRO in the presence of Dr K Sivan, Secretary, DOS / Chairman, ISRO, unveiled the bust of Dr Vikram A Sarabhai at Antariksh Bhavan, ISRO HQ today. He also delivered Sarabhai Memorial Talk. This was followed by Press briefing by Chairman, ISRO as a Curtain Raiser for the next year’s Vikram Sarabhai’s Birth Centenary Celebrations.



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https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/s...ice-on-moon/article24742929.ece?homepage=true
Washington, August 21, 2018 11:18 IST
Updated: August 22, 2018 12:58 IST
Chandrayan


A scale model of Chandrayaan-1 displayed at Anna Science Centre - Planetarium, in Tiruchi. File | Photo Credit: R. Ashok

The ice deposits are patchily distributed and could possibly be ancient, according to the study published in the journal PNAS.

Scientists have found frozen water deposits in the darkest and coldest parts of the Moon’s polar regions using data from the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft that was launched by India 10 years ago, NASA said on Tuesday.

With enough ice sitting at the surface — within the top few millimetres — water would possibly be accessible as a resource for future expeditions to explore and even stay on the Moon, and potentially easier to access than the water detected beneath the Moon’s surface.

The ice deposits are patchily distributed and could possibly be ancient, according to the study published in the journal PNAS.

At the southern pole, most of the ice is concentrated at lunar craters, while the northern pole’s ice is more widely, but sparsely spread.

Scientists used data from NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument to identify three specific signatures that definitively prove there is water ice at the surface of the Moon.

M3, aboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, launched in 2008 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was uniquely equipped to confirm the presence of solid ice on the Moon.

It collected data that not only picked up the reflective properties we would expect from ice, but was also able to directly measure the distinctive way its molecules absorb infrared light, so it can differentiate between liquid water or vapour and solid ice.

Most of the new-found water ice lies in the shadows of craters near the poles, where the warmest temperatures never reach above minus 156 degrees Celsius.

Due to the very small tilt of the Moon’s rotation axis, sunlight never reaches these regions.

Previous observations indirectly found possible signs of surface ice at the lunar south pole, but these could have been explained by other phenomena, such as unusually reflective lunar soil.

Learning more about this ice, how it got there, and how it interacts with the larger lunar environment will be a key mission focus for NASA and commercial partners, as humans endeavour to return to and explore the Moon.

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Calls for national effort to make crucial components for upcoming missions

A national effort is needed to develop and produce advanced materials to drive the future space programme, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Sivan has said.

Along with high propulsion systems for its launch vehicles, the ISRO is pursuing materials that have extraordinary properties, such as aluminium and beryllium alloys and carbon nanotubes. These are needed for the upcoming high-profile national missions such as the Human Space Programme (HSP), the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), re-entering crew capsules, fuel-saving scramjet missions and the distant single-stage launchers. Locally made materials will also help to cut imports and also lower mission costs, Dr. Sivan said here.

He was delivering the 37th annual Brahm Prakash memorial lecture organised by the Indian Institute of Metals and the Indian Institute of Science. Brahm Prakash was a renowned metallurgist and former director of ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, in the 1970s.

“In recent years, ISRO has indigenised a large number of materials that are hard to get. This has reduced the import content from around 32% to 8% now. However, development of advanced materials such as carbon carbon composites and those for electronics is the immediate need of the space programme. A national effort is required in these two areas,” Dr. Sivan said.

Over the years, ISRO has localised maraging steel, many aluminium alloys, composites, chemicals, coatings and high temperature items. A hafnium-neobium has been produced to create a superalloy of columbium for advanced missions and needs to be produced on a large scale. ISRO is now looking for aluminium and beryllium alloys to make smaller structures; and carbon-carbon composites for the nose cone of the RLV; and carbon nanotubes for fuel tank systems and silica alternatives for thermal tiles. Next-generation semicryogenic launchers and electric propulsion systems of smaller future satellites need them. Industry must take it forward in an aggressive way, he said addressing metallurgists.

“Lab-level R&D can produce small quantities of special materials. We want industry to come forward to produce them in large quantities,” Dr. Sivan later told this newspaper. A carbon fibre technology developed with National Aeronaticial Labs awaits a production partner.

Material costs alone are 85% of a launch vehicle. The remaining 15% includes the propellant, technology, labour, tracking and everything else. “Materials are the heart of any space programme. Without advancements in them we cannot keep it going.”

New materials are needed to make lighter, stronger, faster and safer space vehicles of the future. They must ensure that satellites and launchers work safely and well in extreme hot and cold conditions of space; amidst high pressure and protect crews from radiation hazards. They should also protect space vehicles from the impact of micro meteorites that may hit them.

Much of ISRO’s materials research is conducted at VSSC, the rocket development centre, with other centres chipping in. A few hundred scientists work on developing metals, ceramics, materials used in electronics.

VSSC’s transfer of titanium sponge technology to Kerala Metals and Minerals Ltd is a major success story. Since 2015, it has erased ISRO's import of 200-300 tonnes each year, bringing down the material's cost and creating a surplus supply in the country.
 
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Department of Space
28-August, 2018 16:54 IST
ISRO to send first Indian into Space by 2022 as announced by PM, says Dr Jitendra Singh

Rs. 10,000 crore mission will be a turning point in India’s space journey; most engineering components are ready: ISRO Chairman Chandrayaan-2 scheduled to be launched in January, 2019

As announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address, India’s first Indian human mission will be launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by 2022. This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh while addressing a press conference here today. The ISRO Chairman, Dr. K. Sivan said that ISRO has the capabilities to accomplish this task by the given timeframe. He said that this is a huge responsibility and a challenging task for ISRO, but it will succeed. The programme will make India the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission. So far, only the USA, Russia and China have launched human spaceflight missions.

It may be recalled that the Prime Minister during his Independence Day address had announced `Gaganyaan — India's maiden human spaceflight programme'. He had declared that 'a son or a daughter of India will go to Space from Indian soil by an Indian vehicle by 2022 (75th year of Indian independence) or sooner'. This is the most ambitious space programme undertaken by ISRO till date and is essential as it will give a big boost to the Science and Technology development within the country, said Dr Sivan. This will also inspire the youth of the country to take up bigger challenges and enhance the prestige of the country.

ISRO has developed some critical technologies like re-entry mission capability, crew escape system, crew module configuration, thermal protection system, deceleration and floatation system, sub-systems of life support system etc. required for this programme. Some of these technologies have been demonstrated successfully through the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-2007), Crew module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment (CARE-2014) and Pad Abort Test (2018). These technologies will enable ISRO in accomplishing the programme objectives in a short span of 4 years.

GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle, which has the necessary payload capability for this mission, will be used to launch Gaganyaan. Two unmanned Gaganyaan missions will be undertaken prior to sending humans. The total programme is expected to be completed before 2022 with first unmanned flight within 30 months. The mission will aim to send a three-member crew to space for a period of five to seven days. The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400km. The total programme cost is expected to be less than Rs. 10,000 crores.

Describing the mission as a complex one, ISRO Chairman said that it would truly be a national endeavour with the participation of ISRO, academia, industry as well as other government and private agencies as stakeholders. To accelerate the programme, ISRO may consider collaborations with space agencies from friendly countries with advanced space programmes.

The Indian Space programme has evolved from its humble beginnings into a mature national capability to utilize space technology for societal development. The seeds sown more than six decades ago have fructified to yield indigenous capabilities to achieve independent access to space, and a plethora of space-based services which are transforming India. This capability was taken forward to undertake milestone missions in space science & exploration such as the Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission and Astrosat, thereby enriching the global knowledge base on the cosmos.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that this will be the first human mission indigenously developed by ISRO, though there have been Indian astronauts who have been to space earlier. This is going to be a big achievement, he said. He said the Government’s emphasis has been for the application of space technologies in various areas such as Agriculture, Railways, Human Resource Development and Road, Transport & Highways, etc. for ease of living.

Giving details about the Gaganyan, Dr Sivan said that it will comprise of a crew module and service module that constitute an orbital module. It weighs approximately 7 tonnes, and will be carried by a rocket. The crew module’s size will be 3.7 mts x 7 mts. The crew will do microgravity experiment during the mission. The crew will be selected by Indian Air Force (IAF) and ISRO jointly after which they will undergo training for two-three years. While ISRO has perfected the engineering aspects of the mission, Dr Sivan said, bioscience is a new field for ISRO and requires collaboration and support from other organizations.

He enumerated the objectives of the Mission as:

  1. Enhancement of science and technology levels in the country
  2. A national project involving several institutes, academia and industry
  3. Improvement of industrial growth
  4. Inspiring youth
  5. Development of technology for social benefits
  6. Improving international collaboration
During the conference, he also spoke about the forthcoming projects of ISRO, including Chandrayaan-2, is scheduled to be launched in January, 2019. The Mission will have an orbiter weighing 2379 kg, lander named Vikram weighing 1471 kg and a rover weighing 27 kg. Explaining the delay in launch of Chandrayaan-2, he said that the payload of the Mission has increased to provide for another component of the lander at 30 km orbit, which required a GSLV MkIII rocket for launch.

He said that ISRO aims to launch 19 missions upto March, 2019. These missions include launch of 4 satellites to accomplish the Digital India programme by providing higher bandwidth for connectivity.

Scientific Secretary, ISRO, Shri R. Umamaheswaran and other Senior Officers of the Department of Space were also present during the press conference.

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The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh addressing a press conference on issues related to Department of Space, in New Delhi on August 28, 2018. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, Dr. K. Sivan is also seen.
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The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh addressing a press conference on issues related to Department of Space, in New Delhi on August 28, 2018. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, Dr. K. Sivan and the Scientific Secretary, ISRO, Shri R. Umamaheswaran are also seen.
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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, Dr. K. Sivan addressing a press conference on issues related to Department of Space, in New Delhi on August 28, 2018.
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The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh addressing a press conference on issues related to Department of Space, in New Delhi on August 28, 2018. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, Dr. K. Sivan is also seen.
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The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh addressing a press conference on issues related to Department of Space, in New Delhi on August 28, 2018. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, Dr. K. Sivan and the Scientific Secretary, ISRO, Shri R. Umamaheswaran are also seen.
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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, Dr. K. Sivan addressing a press conference on issues related to Department of Space, in New Delhi on August 28, 2018.
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...-isro-chief/article24803753.ece?homepage=true
NEW DELHI, August 28, 2018 22:11 IST
Updated: August 28, 2018 22:56 IST

Most of the technologies are already developed’


If everything goes according to plan, in 40 months, three Indians will be launched into space by an Indian rocket. This is the aim of India’s ambitious manned spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, the contours of which were outlined by Dr. K. Sivan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday.

“We will do it before the 75th Independence Day. I will say that we will target six months before that. Sceptics have been doubtful but we are confident. Most of the technologies are already developed,” Dr. Sivan told a press conference.

He stated that ISRO began work on the manned mission in 2004 and some of these technologies have been demonstrated successfully through various tests — Space Capsule Recovery Experiment, Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment and Pad Abort Test.

In the Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that an Indian will go to space by 2022 “with the tricolour in his hand.”

ISRO will use its GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle, which has the necessary payload capability to launch Gaganyaan, Dr. Sivan said. Two unmanned missions will be undertaken prior to sending humans on the first manned flight within 30 months and manned mission in 40 months.

“The mission will aim to send a three-person crew to space for a period of 5-7 days. The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400km,” Dr. Sivan said.

The total programme is expected to cost less than ₹10,000 crore and will result in significant spinoffs in multiple dimensions, including technology spinoffs in the social sector.

“This is very cost-effective when you look at it from a larger perspective, more so when you compare it with similar missions sent by other countries. The benefits which we are going to obtain from them are invaluable,” Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Space, said.

Launch sequence

A crew module, along with the service module, together called the orbital module weighing seven tonnes, will be mounted atop the GSLV launch vehicle.

“The crew will reach low earth orbit in 16 minutes and stay in orbit for 5-7 days. During orbit, the astronauts will carry out micro gravity experiments,” Dr. Sivan said.

In the return phase, at 120 km above earth, the crew module will separate from the service module and head towards earth in a controlled manner. “It will take 36 minutes to reach the earth,” he stated.


The crew module will splash down on the Arabian Sea closer to Ahmedabad. However, Dr. Sivan said ISRO is drawing up plans to land the module on the Bay of Bengal or even on land in case of any contingency to “ensure safety of the crew.”

The mission crew can be either Air Force pilots or even civilians. However, Dr. Sivan said that for the first flight the preference is for pilots. The selection of the crew is expected to begin shortly as it will take 2-3 years to complete the training. “You can expect an advertisement soon,” Dr. Sivan stated.

National effort

Given the complexity of the programme, Dr. Sivan said, it will truly be a national endeavour with the participation of ISRO, academia, industry as well as other government and private agencies as stake-holders.

The project will also result in employment for 15,000 people most of it in the private sector.

To accelerate the programme, ISRO is considering seeking collaborations with space agencies from friendly countries with advanced space programmes.

The programme once launched, will make India the fourth nation in the world to have a manned space mission. So far only the U.S., Russia and China have launched human space flight missions.
 
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...enue-to-rss/article24814275.ece?homepage=true

Outfit is planning a 3-day lecture series

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is yet to take a decision on the RSS application for permission to hold a three-day lecture series at Vigyan Bhavan next month. The venue is usually reserved for government seminars and conferences.

Responding to reports that he would use his discretionary powers to allow the RSS event at the venue, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri told reporters on Wednesday that he had not yet seen the application.

“All we had received yesterday [Tuesday] was an online application...We haven’t even looked at it yet,” he said.

He declined to comment on the policy regarding such applications from private organisations, or his role in the decision.

Earlier this week, the RSS announced that the lecture series, titled “Future of Bharat: An RSS Perspective” would be held from September 17 to 19.

According to news reports, the organisation has applied for booking Vigyan Bhavan’s Hall No. 6, which has a capacity of 350-400 people.

Private organisations leasing Hall no.6 would be required to pay ₹86,100 per day as licence fee.
 
Bengaluru, September 06, 2018 11:21 IST
Updated: September 06, 2018 11:23 IST
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...anyaan-crew/article24878943.ece?homepage=true

Bengaluru Space Expo BSX 2018 which opened here on Thursday.

‘Gaganyaan,’ the human space flight programme green-flagged and set for 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is highly doable, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation K. Sivan had said earlier.

V.R. Lalithambika, a specialist in advanced launcher technologies, will helm the project as Director of the Human Space Flight Project.

The mission is estimated at ₹9000 crore. Most of the critical technologies and hardware required for the project are ready or have been demonstrated by its centres. ISRO would now stitch them up into a complete project and present a comprehensive project report to get a formal approval of the government, Dr. Sivan said. “We have tested the necessary critical technologies required for the Human Space Flight Programme (HSP) and are confident of achieving it as stated by the Prime Minister,” he said.
 
TH07ISRONATION

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/s...put-says-isro-chief-sivan/article24884448.ece

With ISRO’s launch schedule growing rapidly, production has to be raised, he says.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) wants industry to raise its engagement with the country’s space programme by helping drive production of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs) that ISRO needs to meet its fast expanding launch schedule in the coming years, Chairman K.Sivan said.

“Industry is one of our pillars. But we are not satisfied with the current level of industry participation,” Dr. Sivan told participants at the biennial Space Expo, BSX-2018, here on Thursday.

“Our missions are growing at a fast pace, to 59 satellites in three years. It means that instead of doing six or seven launches a year we must do almost two launches a month.

'Free ISRO up'
”Observing that partner companies stood to gain substantially from the projects, Dr. Sivan, who is also Secretary, Department of Space, exhorted industry to take up bigger and independent roles in manufacturing satellites and launchers.

This would free ISRO up to focus on pursuing new technologies and the challenge of the manned space misson, which is about 40 months away.

“Please help us in achieving this,” he said.With 85% of the launch vehicle cost and 50% of the spacecraft cost going to industries that supply components and systems to ISRO, Dr. Sivan said domestic companies stood to gain substantially. Of the ₹10,400 crore worth of launch vehicles approved a few months back, about ₹9,000 crore would go to supplier industries in the coming years.ISRO, which last year initiated a plan to convert current suppliers into independent producers of its PSLVs, is finalising ways to tie up with multiple manufacturing consortia.

Rakesh Sasibhushan, CMD of Antrix Corp., said global space commerce — estimated at about $380 billion in 2017 — is nearing double-digit growth. ISRO’s missions are also in overdrive and Indian industry has a big role in it, he added.
 
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“RISAT-1 is no longer operational. It was decommissioned last year,” ISRO Chairman K. Sivan told The Hindu. Launched on April 26, 2012, the satellite was equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar for earth observation and had a design life of five years.

In 2016, U.S. space agency NASA had reported a ‘debris generating’ event near RISAT-1. In 2017, the satellite was decommissioned and declared non-operational in the annual report of the Department of Space. RISAT- 2, another satellite in the series launched in 2009, remains in orbit but is reserved for strategic applications.

Radar imaging satellites ISRO’s RISAT are particularly useful for monitoring floods and assessing damage because they are capable of penetrating cloud cover and operating day and night and in all weather conditions.

“Notwithstanding the absence of our own radar satellite, ISRO is equipped with microwave data acquired under various international charters”, said P.G.Diwakar, former Scientific Secretary to the Chairman, ISRO. “Most of the data is published on the Bhuvan website and can be accessed by the Government and other institutions for post-flood analysis.” Researchers stress the need for ISRO to focus on the development of a successor to RISAT-1. The increasing frequency of climate-change induced events in the country warrants a dedicated indigenous satellite resource, they contend.

Researchers in Kerala are turning to foreign space agencies to source satellite radar imagery for post-flood analysis and damage assessment as the decommissioning of ISRO’s RISAT-1 last year has left India without an indigenous radar imaging satellite for civilian applications. While the University of Kerala has tied up with the Michigan Technological University to map the areas that were flooded last month following torrential rains in the State, the Kerala Agricultural University has partnered with the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to assess the crop damage.

The other research teams are sourcing radar images from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency to prepare inundation maps.

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Radar imaging satellites like ESA’s Sentinel-1A was launched on 3 April 2014 by a Soyuz rocket at 21:02:31 GMT (23:02:31 CEST).where as Sentinel-1B radar imaging satellite launched by a Soyuz rocket on 25 April 2016.

Sentinel-1C and 1D are in development with launch dates to be determined.

Applications Land and sea monitoring, natural disasters mapping, sea ice observations, ships detection


Soyuz itself has been flying since the mid-1960s. A development of the earlier Voskhod rocket, it is derived from R-7 missile, the world’s first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which first flew in 1957. Soyuz-2, a modernized version of the rocket incorporating digital flight control systems and upgraded engines, was introduced with a suborbital test flight in 2004. The first orbital Soyuz-2 launches were made in 2006.

Soyuz is a three-stage rocket, with the first stage – consisting of four liquid-fuelled strap-on boosters and a core second stage, all of which are ground-lit and burn in parallel up to first stage separation, and a Blok-I third stage. There are three different versions of the Soyuz-2. The Soyuz-2-1a is a modernized version of Soyuz,
The more powerful Soyuz-2-1b introduces an RD-0124 third-stage engine in place of the RD-0110 used by the Soyuz-2-1a.


The Soyuz-2-1v, a newer addition to carry lighter payloads, omits the first stage altogether and replaces the core stage engine with an NK-33.

Manufactured by the All-Russia Research Institute of Electromechanics (NPP VNIIEM), Kanopus V No. 3 and No. 4 are Earth-imaging satellites that are slated to be operated by Roscosmos. Each spacecraft weighs around 1,042 lbs. (473 kilograms) and is fitted with two deployable solar arrays and three imaging instruments. The satellites will operate from a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 317 miles (510 kilometers) for a planned five year period.

Kanopus satellites are designed to be used mainly for environmental monitoring, mapping, man-made and natural disaster detection and management, agricultural monitoring and fire detection. They are also designed to provide wide-angle images to compliment the constellation of high-resolution Resurs satellites.

Besides the Russian Kanopus satellites, Thursday’s mission also saw five spacecraft launched on behalf of Germany: four S-NET nanosatellites and one D-Star ONE v 1.1 Phoenix CubeSat.


Read more at http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/o...-vostochny-11-satellites/#jBcrQcgBWgfYFlbo.99
 
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Cabinet
12-September, 2018 16:33 IST
MoU on Cooperation in the operation of Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand station for satellite and launch vehicles, and for cooperation in the field of Space Research, Science and Applications

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the operation of Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand station for satellite and launch vehicles, and for cooperation in the field of Space Research, Science and Applications. The MoU was signed in New Delhi on 19th July 2018.

Benefits:

The MoU enables ISRO to continue to operate, maintain and augment its ground station meant for supporting India’s launch vehicle and satellite missions. This will also help India to share its experience and expertise in space activities through training of officials and students on space technology applications.

Cooperation through this MoU would lead to operation, maintenance and augmentation of Indian Ground Station to support India’s launch vehicle and satellite missions. Thus all sections and regions of the country will get benefited.

The MoU will provide impetus to explore newer research activities in ground station operations and training on space technology applications.

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Bengaluru, September 15, 2018 18:16 IST
Updated: September 15, 2018 19:12 IST

ISRO

The PSLV-C42 at First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Photo: Twitter/@ISRO


ISRO begins countdown for launch of PSLV-C42 that will carry S-Band synthetic aperture radar satellite and a high resolution optical Earth observation satellite.

A PSLV (polar satellite launch vehicle) will be launched on September16 night from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota to put two earth observation satellites to space. The 33-hour countdown for the launch began at 1.08 p.m. on Saturday.

There are Indian satellite on this flight. PSLV-C42 will be the first fully commercial trip of the year, breaking a five-month-long lull, for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

ISRO did not make any launch post April 12, after it put replacement navigation satellite IRNSS-1I to space on PSLV-C41. A few days after that, it recalled its GSAT-11, weeks before it was due for launch.

ISRO Chairman K. Sivan said the interval was not connected with the satellite recall but for the sake of readiness of the two customer satellites. He spoke from Tirupati en route to Sriharikota.

The PSLV is being flown in its core-alone format, minus the external boosters. The two satellites together weigh nearly 889 kg; this is the optimum payload that a core-alone PSLV can launch, Dr. Sivan said.

PSLV-C42 is scheduled for launch at 10.08 p.m. from the first launch pad. It will lift NovaSAR and S1-4 to a sun-synchronous ('pole-to-pole') orbit 583 km from the Earth.

The entire flight up to the release of the satellites is designed to happen within 17.5 minutes.



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ISRO’S PSLV-C42 sits on the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Photo: Twitter/@ISRO

S-Band synthetic aperture radar satellite, which will map forest, land use and monitor ice cover, flood and disaster.

A high resolution optical Earth observation satellite that will be used for surveying resources, urban management and monitoring of the environment and disasters.

Antrix has so far contracted over 280 foreign customer satellites for a fee; most of them are small experimental or earth observation spacecraft.

This will be the 44th PSLV and the 12th time it will fly as core-alone.
 
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Department of Space
16-September, 2018 23:00 IST
PSLV-C42 launches 2 satellites

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C42) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched two satellites from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota today.

The PSLV-C42 lifted off from the First Launch Pad of SHAR at 10.08 pm (IST). Both satellites were injected into the Sun Synchronous Orbit, about 17 minutes later, at an altitude of 583 km.

The satellites which has a contract with Antrix Corporation Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO carries S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and an Automatic Identification Receiver payloads. The satellite applications include forestry mapping, land use and ice cover monitoring, flood and disaster monitoring and maritime missions. It will be operated from SSTL’s Spacecraft Operations Centre.

S1-4 is a high resolution earth observation satellite meant for surveying resources, environment monitoring, urban management and disaster monitoring.

This was the 44th flight of PSLV and the 12th flight of the Core Alone version of the vehicle. Core Alone is its lightest version without the six strap-on motors. It is used for launching smaller payloads.

The PSLV launch vehicle consists of four stages, each of which is a self-contained vehicle capable of functioning independently with own propulsion systems.

During the previous launch (PSLV-C41, April 12, 2018), the ‘XL’ version of PSLV with six strap-on motors was used. The vehicle successfully launched the IRNSS-1I navigation satellite to a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.

Preparations for the PSLV-C42 began at Sriharikota in mid-July with the process of vehicle integration setting the tone for the launch. Many centres of ISRO contributed to this mission with the vehicle being designed and developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. The second and fourth stage liquid engines came from Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Thiruvananthapuram and ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

The vehicle’s guidance system is from ISRO’s Inertial Systems Unit, Thiruvananthapuram, while SDSC SHAR was responsible for solid motor preparation, vehicle integration and launch infrastructure. ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and Command Network provided tracking support.

ISRO Chairman Dr K. Sivan congratulated the team soon after the successful mission.

“I am extremely happy that the PSLV-C42 precisely launched two of our satellites at 583 km orbit. This was unique night mission executed for the first time by us. The PSLV has proven yet again as a user-friendly vehicle in all aspects. The credit goes to the entire ISRO team and industries. This success will give added energy for industries to make PSLV by themselves. We are going to have 18 missions in the next six months, virtually one launch every two weeks,” Dr Sivan said.

Thousands of skilled personnel from ISRO and industries, including many youngsters, played a crucial role in this mission. The Project Director of PSLV is Shri R. Hutton, who was also the Mission Director.

“The PSLV-C42 marks the latest technology and commercial collaboration with the launch of the combination of high resolution optical and radar (SAR) satellites from us,” says Sir Martin Sweeting, Group Executive Chairman, SSTL.

As on date, ISRO has launched 239 foreign satellites of 28 countries.

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Department of Atomic Energy
18-September, 2018 16:21 IST
Medical Cyclotron Facility Cyclone-30 Became Operational at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata

Cyclotrons are used to produce radioisotopes for diagnostic and therapeutic use for
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cancer care. Cyclone-30, the biggest cyclotron in India for medical application became operational this month when 30 MeV beam reached the Faraday Cup for the first time last week. Subsequently, beam from this facility was used to produce 18F (Fluorine-18 isotope) for the preparation of [18 FlFluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), a radio-pharmaceutical used by Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT). The facility will start regular production by the middle of the next year after the commissioning of the supporting nuclear systems and regulatory clearances. Cyclone-30 facility at VECC, Kolkata, a Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) unit, will have many unique features, under various stages of implementation, which are first of its kind in many ways. After the commissioning of liquid target (for FDG production) and solid targets (production of Germanium-68, Palladium-103 and other isotopes), work on studies related to installation of Iodine isotope [1-123] production target, material study target and Accelerator Driven System target will also be taken up.

This facility will provide for affordable radio isotopes and related radiopharmaceuticals for the entire country especially, for Eastern India and also have export potential for Germanium-68/Gallium-68 generator for in-situ production of Gallium-68 and Palladium-103 isotopes, used for breast cancer diagnosis and prostate cancer treatment, respectively.

Cyclone-30 commissioning re-emphasises the capability of Indian scientists and engineers to deliver at the highest level of science and technology.

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