India Space Indian Space Program

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1481091558719979520

A new chairman has also been appointed:

Eminent rocket scientist Somanath appointed ISRO Chairman

He played a major role in development of the PSLV and GSLV Mk-III

www.thehindu.com

 

[Nilgiri]

Isro successfully conducts cryo engine test for Gaganyaan rocket | India News - Times of India

India News: NEW DELHI: Achieving another milestone in its ongoing Gaganyaan programme, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Wednesday successfully conduct.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

NEW DELHI: Achieving another milestone in its ongoing Gaganyaan programme, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Wednesday successfully conducted the qualification test of the cryogenic engine of the human-rated GSLV rocket to be used in the country’s maiden human spaceflight mission, scheduled to be launched in 2023.

“Isro successfully conducted the qualification test of cryogenic engine for Gaganyaan programme for a duration of 720 seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The performance of the engine met the test objectives and the engine parameters were closely matching with the predictions during the entire duration of the test, the space agency said in a statement.

The successful long-duration test is a major milestone as it ensured the reliability and robustness of the cryogenic engine for induction into the human-rated launch vehicle. Further, the engine will undergo four more tests for a cumulative duration of 1810 seconds. Subsequently, one more engine will undergo two short-duration tests and one long-duration test to complete the cryogenic engine qualification for the manned mission.

Before the final manned mission in 2023, Isro has scheduled to send a ‘ vyommitra’ (a human-like robot) to space in two unmanned missions, one of which is likely to be launched around the middle of this year.

Till now, Isro chairman K Sivan had been overseeing different aspects of the Gaganyaan programme from setting up the Human Space Flight Centre to accelerate the programme to signing a slew of agreements with Russia and France for training of gagannauts, spacesuits, other space material and space medicine to several demonstration tests of the crew module. With Sivan’s one-year extended term ending on January 14, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre director and rocket scientist S Somanath, who was appointed new chairman on Wednesday, will now oversee the programme, which includes the launches of the two unmanned missions this year and the final manned mission next year.

======================

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1481257593310183427

 

[Nilgiri]

 

[Nilgiri]

India is one of only a handful of nations that have sent probes to the moon and Mars. But the most impressive part of its space program is its cost-effectiveness. Unlike other government space organizations, India's agency is extremely efficient, with the lowest cost-per-kilogram in the industry. Now India is throwing open its doors to private companies and raising its stellar ambitions.

#India #Space #BloombergQuicktake

 

[Zapper]

 

[Nilgiri]

Explained: ISRO’s SSLV, a small satellite launcher with big prospects ahead

ISRO's indigenous new launch rockets, called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), is likely to have its much-delayed, maiden development flight this April. Here's what we know about it

indianexpress.com

ISRO's indigenous new launch rockets, called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), is likely to have its much-delayed, maiden development flight this April. Here's what we know about it​

Written by Johnson T A , Edited by Explained Desk | Bengaluru |
Updated: January 27, 2022 10:19:21 am


The new chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation Dr S Somanath indicated at a meeting with the minister of state for space Jitendra Singh Tuesday that ISRO’s indigenous new launch rockets, called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), will have its much-delayed, maiden development flight this April.

The ISRO chairman has mentioned the launch of an “SSLV-D1 Micro SAT in April 2022” the Press Information Bureau said in an official statement on the meeting between the new ISRO chairman and the Space Minister on Tuesday.

Also Read |As ISRO prepares for manned mission, its new chief is man for the moment

The SSLV is intended to cater to a market for the launch of small satellites into low earth orbits which has emerged in recent years on account of the need for developing countries, private corporations, and universities for small satellites.

The launch of small satellites has until now been dependent on ‘piggy-back’ rides with big satellite launches on ISRO’s work-horse – the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle which has had over 50 successful launches so far. The launch of small satellites as a consequence has been dependent on the finalising of launch contracts for the larger satellites by ISRO.

The launch of small satellites has until now been dependent on ‘piggy-back’ rides with big satellite launches on ISRO’s work-horse – the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. (Photo: PTI)

Somanath himself is credited with the design and development of the SSLV during his time as director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram since 2018. The launch of the maiden flight of the SSLV was scheduled for July 2019 but has been delayed due to setbacks from the Covid 19 crisis and other issues.
The SSLV can carry satellites weighing up to 500 kg to a low earth orbit while the tried and tested PSLV can launch satellites weighing in the range of 1000 kg.

“The SSLV is the smallest vehicle at 110-ton mass at ISRO. It will take only 72 hours to integrate, unlike the 70 days taken now for a launch vehicle. Only six people will be required to do the job, instead of 60 people. The entire job will be done in a very short time and the cost will be only around Rs 30 crore. It will be an on-demand vehicle,” former ISRO chairman K Sivan had stated in 2019 at the ISRO headquarters during an annual press conference.

The former chairman Sivan said in an industry meeting that year that about 15 to 20 SSLVs would be required every year to meet the national demand alone.
The SSLV received a commercial booking in 2019 itself from the US space launch services intermediary Spaceflight Inc. Spaceflight announced on August 8, 2019, that it has clinched a deal with an ISRO commercial arm for using the second developmental flight of the SSLV rocket to launch a spacecraft for an “undisclosed US-based satellite constellation” customer.

“SSLV is perfectly suited for launching multiple microsatellites at a time and supports multiple orbital drop-offs. We are excited to add SSLV to our launch portfolio and manage many launches together — first to LEO (low earth orbit) mid-inclinations this year and SSO missions starting in the fall of 2020,” Spaceflight CEO and president Curt Blake said in 2019.

The development and manufacture of the SSLV are expected to create greater synergy between the space sector and private Indian industries – a key aim of the space ministry. Indian industry has a consortium for the production of PSLV and should come together to produce the SSLV as well once it is tested, ISRO has stated in the past.

One of the aims of the newly-created ISRO commercial arm, New Space India Limited (NSIL), is to use research and development carried out by ISRO over the years for commercial purposes through Indian industry partners.

“Manufacturing and production of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) through technology transfer,” is one of the mandates of the new firm.

There are more than 500 industries contributing to ISRO programs at present, and more than half of the project budget outlay for space programs flows to these industries.

========================================

Addendum:

SSLV

The Indian SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) is a small launch vehicle serving the marked below the PSLV family.

space.skyrocket.de

 

[SavageKing456]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1488370800843698178

@Nilgiri @Cabatli_53 @Anmdt @T-123456 @Test7 @Zapper and other

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1488909419974823936

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1489260027135553536

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1490966157993869313

 

[Gessler]

EOS-04/RISAT-1A C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite being prepped for launch on Feb 14th:

 

[Gessler]

 

[Nilgiri]

Jai Hind

The Launch was successful, I watched the stream live just now....it had a couple big name viewers like "NASASpaceflightVideos" and "Scott Manley" commenting as well from time to time

The stream can be found here:

================================================================================================================

Isro successfully launches Earth Observation Satellite, two other co-passengers on PSLV-C52

ISRO's first launch in 2022: The four-stage rocket lifted off with EOS-04, a student satellite INSPIRESat and a spacecraft dubbed INSAT-2DT.

www.indiatoday.in

The Indian Space & Research Organisation (Isro) successfully launched the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-04) onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in the wee hours of Monday. The launch carried two other rideshare satellites into orbit as the Indian space agency set in motion work for 2022.


The launch was conducted from SAR in Sriharikota at 5:59 am to deploy EOS-04 in the Sun-Synchronous Orbit nearly 529 kilometers above the planet. The four-stage rocket lifted off with a student satellite InspireSat and a spacecraft dubbed INSAT-2DT that is a precursor of a joint India-Bhutan mission in the future.

The Earth Observation Satellite-04 is also called Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) that has been designed to provide high-quality images under all weather conditions for applications such as agriculture, forestry, and plantations, flood mapping, soil moisture & hydrology. The spacecraft will collect observation data in C-Band completing the observations done by Resourcesat, Cartosat, and RISAT-2B series. The satellite has an operating life of a decade.

The 8.1-kilogram student satellite dubbed INSPIRESat-1 has been developed by the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology in association with the Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at the University of Colorado. The satellite will aim at improving our understanding of the ionosphere dynamics and the sun's coronal heating process. Its operational lifetime is set for a year.

This was the first launch of PSLV since the failure of the EOS-03 mission launched last year. The space agency had declared the mission as failed citing a technical anomaly with the system.

The first launch of 2022 has set in motion Isro’s plans to conduct 18 other missions this year including the high profile launch of Chandrayaan-3 to the Moon and the much-awaited uncrewed launch of the country’s Gaganyaan mission.

The 54th mission of India’s workhorse PSLV saw the launcher climb up in the SSO. The space agency plans to conduct the PSLV-C53 mission in March, which will carry OCEANSAT-3 and INS 2B ANAND into orbit.

Isro chief S Somnath had earlier said that the agency conduct five major satellite launches in the coming three months and a total of 19 missions this year.

 

[Gessler]

 

[The Ultranationalist]

Is it true that a taiwanese satllite was also launched along with other payloads?

 

[Nilgiri]

Is it true that a taiwanese satllite was also launched along with other payloads?

This co-passenger was a joint-project satellite involving: US, India, Taiwan, Singapore

In a first, Taiwan researchers joined in developing satellite launched by ISRO

In a first, India's Space Research Organisation(ISRO) on Monday launched a satellite jointly developed by team of international researchers including from Taiwan. INSPIRESat-1 satellite has been developed by scientists from universities of US, Taiwan, India and Singapore.

www.wionews.com

INSPIRESat-1 satellite has been developed by scientists from universities of US, Taiwan, India and Singapore.

The universities include: University of Colorado's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Taiwan's National Central University (NCU) and Singapore' Nanyang Technological University. INSPIRESat-1 stands for International Research and Teaching Satellite Project satellite one.

 

[Nilgiri]

Consortium led by Adani-backed firm assembled, integrated and tested Isro's earth observation satellite | India News - Times of India

India News: BENGALURU: In another mission that saw a push for private industry, the Earth Observation Satellite-04 (EOS-04) or Risat-1A launched by the PSLV-C52 a.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

BENGALURU: In another mission that saw a push for private industry, the Earth Observation Satellite-04 (EOS-04) or Risat-1A launched by the PSLV-C52 as its main payload on Monday was assembled, integrated and tested by a consortium led by Bengaluru-based private firm Alpha Design Technologies Limited (ADTL).

Adani-backed ADTL, along with its consortium partners had, in 2018, signed an agreement with Isro to work at ISITE (Isro Spacecraft Integration Test Establishment) to build satellites for the space agency. ADTL chairman-and-managing director (CMD) Col (retd) HS Shankar said young engineers and technicians from their consortium carried out the work under Isro’s guidance.

“The complete Assembly, Integration & Testing (AIT) at ISITE facilities were done by us. That is, all the items that Isro had procured from various vendors — both in India and abroad — and what they had developed in some of their centres were all assembled, integrated and tested by our specially qualified and trained team of 50+ engineers and technicians,” Shankar told TOI.

Risat-1A was put into an intended sun synchronous polar orbit of 529km altitude at 6.17am eighteen minutes after the PSLV-C52 lifted off from the first launch pad at SHAR.

This was the 80th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota; 54th flight of PSLV; and the 23rd flight of PSLV in XL configuration (6 strap-on motors).

The satellite is a Radar Imaging Satellite designed to provide high quality images under all weather conditions for applications such as Agriculture, Forestry & Plantations, Soil Moisture & Hydrology and Flood mapping. Weighing about 1,710 kg, it generates 2,280W power and has a mission life of 10 years.

The consortium had done the AIT for another Isro satellite before this — the GSAT-30. The telecommunication satellite was successfully launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on January 17, 2020 from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by Ariane-5 VA-251.
GSAT-30 is designed to provide communication services from Geostationary orbit in C and Ku bands and derives its heritage from Isro’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series.

A replacement to INSAT-4A, GSAT-30 weighs 3,357kg and provides Indian mainland and islands coverage in Ku-band and extended coverage in C-band covering Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia.

“These two satellites are part of the consortium, but before that ADTL had assembled two other satellites independently — the IRNSS-1H and IRNSS-1I — which was before the said 2018 contract,” Shankar added.

While the IRNSS-1H could not be put in orbit as the PSLV launching it suffered a glitch in the heat shield, the IRNSS-1I, a repeat satellite of the same family is in orbit as part of the constellation of satellites under the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System or NavIC programme.
“The 2018 contract came before the space reforms were announced. Now, with additional emphasis on the private sector, we are looking forward to more collaborations with Isro,” Shankar added.

 

[Zapper]

Consortium led by Adani-backed firm assembled, integrated and tested Isro's earth observation satellite | India News - Times of India

India News: BENGALURU: In another mission that saw a push for private industry, the Earth Observation Satellite-04 (EOS-04) or Risat-1A launched by the PSLV-C52 a.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

BENGALURU: In another mission that saw a push for private industry, the Earth Observation Satellite-04 (EOS-04) or Risat-1A launched by the PSLV-C52 as its main payload on Monday was assembled, integrated and tested by a consortium led by Bengaluru-based private firm Alpha Design Technologies Limited (ADTL).

Adani-backed ADTL, along with its consortium partners had, in 2018, signed an agreement with Isro to work at ISITE (Isro Spacecraft Integration Test Establishment) to build satellites for the space agency. ADTL chairman-and-managing director (CMD) Col (retd) HS Shankar said young engineers and technicians from their consortium carried out the work under Isro’s guidance.

“The complete Assembly, Integration & Testing (AIT) at ISITE facilities were done by us. That is, all the items that Isro had procured from various vendors — both in India and abroad — and what they had developed in some of their centres were all assembled, integrated and tested by our specially qualified and trained team of 50+ engineers and technicians,” Shankar told TOI.

Risat-1A was put into an intended sun synchronous polar orbit of 529km altitude at 6.17am eighteen minutes after the PSLV-C52 lifted off from the first launch pad at SHAR.

This was the 80th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota; 54th flight of PSLV; and the 23rd flight of PSLV in XL configuration (6 strap-on motors).

The satellite is a Radar Imaging Satellite designed to provide high quality images under all weather conditions for applications such as Agriculture, Forestry & Plantations, Soil Moisture & Hydrology and Flood mapping. Weighing about 1,710 kg, it generates 2,280W power and has a mission life of 10 years.

The consortium had done the AIT for another Isro satellite before this — the GSAT-30. The telecommunication satellite was successfully launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on January 17, 2020 from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by Ariane-5 VA-251.
GSAT-30 is designed to provide communication services from Geostationary orbit in C and Ku bands and derives its heritage from Isro’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series.

A replacement to INSAT-4A, GSAT-30 weighs 3,357kg and provides Indian mainland and islands coverage in Ku-band and extended coverage in C-band covering Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia.

“These two satellites are part of the consortium, but before that ADTL had assembled two other satellites independently — the IRNSS-1H and IRNSS-1I — which was before the said 2018 contract,” Shankar added.

While the IRNSS-1H could not be put in orbit as the PSLV launching it suffered a glitch in the heat shield, the IRNSS-1I, a repeat satellite of the same family is in orbit as part of the constellation of satellites under the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System or NavIC programme.
“The 2018 contract came before the space reforms were announced. Now, with additional emphasis on the private sector, we are looking forward to more collaborations with Isro,” Shankar added.

What's the status of Navic btw? I read reports that it might take a few more years for civilian use but has military started using it or still entirely dependent on GPS and GLONASS?

 

[Nilgiri]

What's the status of Navic btw? I read reports that it might take a few more years for civilian use but has military started using it or still entirely dependent on GPS and GLONASS?

There is not much unclassified information about the extent of use by Indian military (and probably best it kept that way this decade).

ISRO is now confidently making Navic available for even chinese company end-solutions:

ISRO ties up with Chinese tech giant Oppo for R&D of NavIC messaging service

NEW DELHI: The Indian Space Research Organisation on Friday signed an agreement with Chinese tech giant Oppo to strengthen the research and development (R&D

www.newindianexpress.com

so I would think that suggests a strong developed core architecture for the highest precision stuff (i.e encrypted military exclusive).

It would be confidential just what this entails right now though, as it would be things that GPS, Galileo and GLONASS (open source signal) are not precise enough for and/or susceptible to war time interference.

Interesting it found mention here:

India’s NAVIC GNSS Capability Declared An Allied System By U.S. Congress - SpaceWatch.Global

The U.S. Congress has formally acknowledged India's NAVIC global navigation satellite system (GNSS)

spacewatch.global

Maybe @Paro or @Gessler have more info to share (if permissible of course).

 

[Gessler]

There is not much unclassified information about the extent of use by Indian military (and probably best it kept that way this decade).

ISRO is now confidently making Navic available for even chinese company end-solutions:

ISRO ties up with Chinese tech giant Oppo for R&D of NavIC messaging service

NEW DELHI: The Indian Space Research Organisation on Friday signed an agreement with Chinese tech giant Oppo to strengthen the research and development (R&D

www.newindianexpress.com

so I would think that suggests a strong developed core architecture for the highest precision stuff (i.e encrypted military exclusive).

It would be confidential just what this entails right now though, as it would be things that GPS, Galileo and GLONASS (open source signal) are not precise enough for and/or susceptible to war time interference.

Interesting it found mention here:

India’s NAVIC GNSS Capability Declared An Allied System By U.S. Congress - SpaceWatch.Global

The U.S. Congress has formally acknowledged India's NAVIC global navigation satellite system (GNSS)

spacewatch.global

Maybe @Paro or @Gessler have more info to share (if permissible of course).

Actually this is the first time I'm hearing about it - thanks for sharing!

As of NaVIC in commercial applications, I know that Garmin released handheld navigation with it: