I don't know if SUPARCO will handle the bulk of the work though. The SLVs are likely a NESCOM type project (since it involves BM rocket tech), while the satellite design and configuration will likely be determined by the armed forces directly. tbh in this case, I think the right move is to completely remove the military/security aspects of space out of SUPARCO so that it can return to its roots as a research institute. I'd rather give SUPARCO a chance to return to what it originally was while leaving SLVs and defence satellites to NESCOM.
@JamD
The stupid compartmentalization essentially kills several initiatives right at the grassroot levels.
I have seen SUPARCO handing out research projects for Bachelors & Masters students which involved simulations related to satellite fairing loading during ascent and separation, orbital thrusters, etc. The documents had specific mentions of these projects contributing 'to the Pak-SLV project'. These are the exact words. Will try to find these documents again.
And then again, NESCOM should essentially be the go-to place for SLVs. But with the closed chicken coops that our 'strategic' orgs work in, there can be two SLV projects running in parallel for all we know, with nothing to show for themselves.
I hope the SLV program is liquid fueled based. I am not sure if NESCOM has expertise in that. Of course there's KRL's Ghauri expertise and I have heard things about a liquid fuelled engine program at SUPARCO too.
That program at SUPARCO probably just exists on paper.
Just to point out something that may be a sad fact - KRL's work on the Ghauri program dates back to the late 90s and early 2000s. The human resource probably has retired/moved on. The Ghauri, to the best of my knowledge, has not been updated. And based on available literature, KRL probably doesn't manufacture the Ghauri anymore since missile manufacturing was handed over to NESCOM.
Therefore, I highly doubt that any credible liquid fuelled engine development expertise exists at KRL or NESCOM. It has been around 2 decades since the Ghauri program seemingly concluded.
Solid fueled SLVs tend to be limited in size and capability but of course are much simpler. Perhaps the final stage plus apogee kick motor can be the only liquid fueled engines. Not sure. But I do agree that SUPARCO should focus on the satellites and not on the SLV.
If we are aiming for a 'true' SLV along the lines of the Indian PSLV or GSLV, then solid fuelled motors will probably be a better choice since we HOPEFULLY have the experience of designing, manufacturing, testing and flying them.
Obviously, this is a very wild dream to have. The largest missile we have built is the Shaheen-III or the Ababeel - probably with an all-up vehicle mass of less than 40,000 kg.
Liquid engines can be used in the boosters, upper stages or the apogee kick motor, as you pointed out.
Here's a labelled graphic that I made using my best estimates. Corrections are welcome.
View attachment 775048
- Solar Panels: I have shown these in the deployed position. There are three in total. Two fold out, one is on the "back".
- Orbit-boosting thruster: I suspect that that is what it is because it is in the center of the satellite. In case you are thinking why it's on the wrong side for boosting the orbit, I believe that the orbit is boosted by changing the attitude first, boosting, then returning to Nadir. Also, no thrusters can be on the bottom (Nadir) of the satellite because that's where the main camera's aperture is and you cannot have thrusters spewing gas and other garbage near it.
- Attitude-control, cold-gas thrusters: Pretty obvious that these are attitude control thrusters. Again, they have to be on the opposite side of the camera aperture.
- Nadir-pointing, cold-gas thrusters: Since this satellite needs to point exactly down wherever it is in orbit, it will require constant attitude corrections in one particular direction to keep it pointing down. I believe these are dedicated thrusters for that. This also lets me guess the direction in which the orbit should be:
View attachment 775044
- Star Tracker: I believe this is a star tracker because both sensors are pointed away from Earth and this is mounted on the side opposite to the side facing the sun (and therefore the sensor is in shade).
- Main camera aperture: this is probably where the camera's aperture is. The yellow thing is probably a cover that should not be there in orbit (sorry didn't have time to photoshop it off).
- Mystery: I honestly don't know what those are, suggestions are welcome.
Gotta give credit. I can not imagine how you can put in the time and effort to come up with stuff like this. You have my deepest respect.
As for the 'Mystery' parts, could they be antennas? One each for uplink and downlink respectively.
