Indian Space Program: News & Discussions
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Successful Qualification of High Thrust Vikas Engine
Today (July 15, 2018), a high thrust version of the Vikas Engine was successfully qualified through a ground test for a duration of 195 seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. Vikas Engine is the workhorse liquid rocket engine powering the second stage of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), second stage and the four strap on stages of Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the twin engine core liquid stage (L110) of GSLV Mk-III.
High Thrust Vikas Engine
All the propulsion parameters during the tests were found satisfactory and closely matched the predictions. This ground test has validated the performance adequacy of the Vikas Engine for its use in the upcoming second developmental flight of GSLV Mk-III. This engine will improve the payload capability of PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk-III launch vehicles.
Successful Qualification of High Thrust Vikas Engine - ISRO
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PSLV bags first Australian orderThe Indian PSLV launcher has broken into a rising Australian space market and bagged its first small but promising order from Down Under. Fleet Space Technologies, an IoT (Internet of Things) startup, disclosed last week that its first 10-kg nanosatellite Centauri I would fly to space on a PSLV later this year.
The prospect for the PSLV is in the fact that Adelaide-based Fleet plans to put up a constellation of an unstated number of tiny satellites — all of which will need a suitable, timely launch vehicle to take them to space.
Australia is in the throes of setting up its space agency and an industry around it. Adelaide in South Australia is the current hub of this activity. The second nanosat, Centauri II, is to be launched on the U.S. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket later this year.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has planned a part-commercial PSLV flight around August. Neither Fleet nor Antrix Corporation, ISRO's business arm, could immediately say if Centauri I would go on it.
For lighter payloads
The PSLV's three versions can lift satellites of 1,000-1,750 kg to distances of around 600 km in pole-to-pole orbits. A neat launch record has made the booster a trusted and affordable space vehicle for small satellites. Big rocket players are focussed on taking heavy, multi-tonne satellites to space.
Since its first commercial launch in 1999, the PSLV has put in orbit 237 small satellites of 28 countries, About half of them are from the US. Antrix recently said it has many more orders confirmed or under discussion.
Low-cost connectivity
A news release from the Australian company quoted its co-founder and CEO Flavia Tata Nardini and said it is developing a series of 10-kg nanosatellites about the size of a shoebox to enable low-cost connectivity for agriculture, logistics, mining and other industries.
"The first satellite," it said, "will establish a global network that will connect [75 billion] sensors and devices, for free." A single nanosat can apparently cover 90% of the globe.
PSLV bags first Australian order
Go Private Sector !!
Each partner will work with the URSC to produce three small to medium satellites each year.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has roped in three partners to help it assemble 27 satellites at a quick pace over the next three years.
Three-year contracts
On Wednesday in Bengaluru, its nodal satellites division URSC (U.R. Rao Satellite Centre) signed separate three-year contracts with Alpha Design Technologies Pvt Ltd and its six consortium members; with defence public enterprise Bharat Electronics Ltd; and with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, Hyderabad.
27 spacecraft by 2021
Each partner will work with the URSC to produce three small to medium satellites each year, or a total of 27 spacecraft by July 2021, it is learnt. About 50 members from each partner will separately work with URSC engineers to complete the project.
The Alpha-plus consortium includes small and medium-sized companies such as Newtech, Aidin, Aniara Communications, DCX, Vinyas and Exseed Space, according to Alpha CMD Col. H.S.Shankar. All but the last member were already involved in building two 1,400-kg navigation satellites IRNSS-1H and 1I for ISRO last year. A URSC official signed the agreements with the three entities in the presence of URSC Director M. Annadurai. A statement just said, “URSC-ISRO has inked pacts for outsourcing of spacecraft assembly, integration and testing [AIT] activities with multiple vendors namely Alpha Technologies Private Limited, Bengaluru & its consortium partners; Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bengaluru; and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Hyderabad.”
URSC estimates a requirement of around 71 satellites till 2021. It means adding 12 satellites a year or one every month. In 2017, it made a record 12 spacecraft but is unable to cope with a growing demand from new applications. Around 35 Indian spacecraft are active in space and will need to be replaced as they expire over time. At the signing event, Dr. Annadurai underlined the need to involve industry in building future Indian satellites - first at ISRO’s premises under its guidance, and later on its own.
It is learnt that URSC unit, ISRO Satellite Integration and Test Establishment (ISITE), will provide three separate work stations for the three partners.
Recently BEL CMD M.V. Gowtama had said the defence major planned to take up satellite activities later at a new 30-acre aerospace and defence park in north Bengaluru.
A spokesperson for TASL said it would participate in the full AIT of satellites of the class of 1,000 kg to 4,000 kg.
URSC, which has so far produced over 100 spacecraft, opened up AIT to industry in August last year and 13 private and public sector companies had responded.
The space agency launches three types of satellites - for communication, Earth observation and navigation. It has earlier said it needs to put double the number of its current satellites in space in order to fully meet national needs. They range from telephony. Internet and broadcasting services to security and simple socio-economic activities.
ISRO ropes in three partners to assemble 27 satellites
@randomradio @Ashwin @Abingdonboy @GuardianRED @Bon Plan @Picdelamirand-oil @vstol Jockey @nair @Aashish @Sumanta @Himanshu
ISRO Ropes in Three Industry Partners to Make 27 Satellites
Each partner will work with the URSC to produce three small to medium satellites each year.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has roped in three partners to help it assemble 27 satellites at a quick pace over the next three years.
Three-year contracts
On Wednesday in Bengaluru, its nodal satellites division URSC (U.R. Rao Satellite Centre) signed separate three-year contracts with Alpha Design Technologies Pvt Ltd and its six consortium members; with defence public enterprise Bharat Electronics Ltd; and with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, Hyderabad.
IRNSS-series navigation satellite being loaded into a Thermo-Vacuum Chamber for testing
27 spacecraft by 2021
Each partner will work with the URSC to produce three small to medium satellites each year, or a total of 27 spacecraft by July 2021, it is learnt. About 50 members from each partner will separately work with URSC engineers to complete the project.
The Alpha-plus consortium includes small and medium-sized companies such as Newtech, Aidin, Aniara Communications, DCX, Vinyas and Exseed Space, according to Alpha CMD Col. H.S.Shankar. All but the last member were already involved in building two 1,400-kg navigation satellites IRNSS-1H and 1I for ISRO last year. A URSC official signed the agreements with the three entities in the presence of URSC Director M. Annadurai. A statement just said, “URSC-ISRO has inked pacts for outsourcing of spacecraft assembly, integration and testing [AIT] activities with multiple vendors namely Alpha Technologies Private Limited, Bengaluru & its consortium partners; Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bengaluru; and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Hyderabad.”
URSC estimates a requirement of around 71 satellites till 2021. It means adding 12 satellites a year or one every month. In 2017, it made a record 12 spacecraft but is unable to cope with a growing demand from new applications. Around 35 Indian spacecraft are active in space and will need to be replaced as they expire over time. At the signing event, Dr. Annadurai underlined the need to involve industry in building future Indian satellites - first at ISRO’s premises under its guidance, and later on its own.
Clean Room Facility at ISITE, Bangalore
It is learnt that URSC unit, ISRO Satellite Integration and Test Establishment (ISITE), will provide three separate work stations for the three partners.
Recently BEL CMD M.V. Gowtama had said the defence major planned to take up satellite activities later at a new 30-acre aerospace and defence park in north Bengaluru.
A spokesperson for TASL said it would participate in the full AIT of satellites of the class of 1,000 kg to 4,000 kg.
URSC, which has so far produced over 100 spacecraft, opened up AIT to industry in August last year and 13 private and public sector companies had responded.
The space agency launches three types of satellites - for communication, Earth observation and navigation. It has earlier said it needs to put double the number of its current satellites in space in order to fully meet national needs. They range from telephony. Internet and broadcasting services to security and simple socio-economic activities.
ISRO ropes in three partners to assemble 27 satellites
@randomradio @Ashwin @Abingdonboy @GuardianRED @Bon Plan @Picdelamirand-oil @vstol Jockey @nair @Aashish @Sumanta @Himanshu
Rare hi-res image of ISRO's Compact Antenna Test Facility in Bangalore:
Anechoic test chamber...such was present at my former workplace at DFL, Ottawa as well, though not quite so large as this one.
Anyone knows does DRDO have a separate one for use for its RF transparency testing of critical components?...or uses this one?
Defence labs have their own. But not as large as these to the best of my knowledge. There are small ones where testing of scale models and RF seekers happens.
There is no facility in India that can accommodate an actual full-size aircraft (with the full pack of mission avionics and communication gear) as far as I know - anyone please correct me if I'm wrong.
@vstol Jockey @randomradio @Ashwin
BEL also has a large facility in Bangalore. ISRO's is 30x20x16m while BEL's new facility is 30x21x11m. BEL in fact has 3 facilities, 2 of which are a bit smaller.
One of them.
NAL has a smaller one, 10.5x7.3x3.1m.
As for DRDO:
There's one with CABS: 35x18x18m.
And LRDE: 20x16x6m.
We have an open range facility in Hyderabad as well. Being built under Project Orange.
Orange to add teeth to India’s gen-next weapon systems
Here's one of DRDO's smaller facilities in Vishakapatnam. Meant for naval technologies.
https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/test-facility-drdo/files/vishakhapatnam/N_013.pdf
And an open radar range for naval ships.
https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/test-facility-drdo/files/vishakhapatnam/N_004.pdf
We have them at university level also.
Anechoic Chamber
New Space in India
The Indian space program was established with a very different goal in mind. Unlike its western counterparts where the space industry began and evolved due to military expenditure during the Cold War, the Indian space program mainly focused on achieving self-reliance that would help solve the problems of the nation. In the words of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian Space program, “There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight. But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society.”
The private space industry has recently grown rapidly around the world. This growth has given rise to a new terminology, New Space, which encompasses the privately funded space companies and ventures, globally. These companies aim to provide low cost and visionary commercial space technologies which would ultimately make space more affordable and accessible, while significantly improving the quality of lives here on Earth.
The Indian space program dates back to 1969, when the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was established. Since then, the Indian space program has come a long way. Earlier this year, the 100th satellite launched helping India establish itself as one of the fast-rising space nations around the world.
Still, India’s share of the global $400 billion space market is less than 0.01%. The private space sector has recently started to take shape in India with some of these companies influencing the global space industry. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Team Indus
ECA, the rover that is supposed to travel on the surface of Moon
Source: Facebook/TeamIndus
Team Indus is probably the most well-known space startup in India. The only Indian team to be the finalists of Google Lunar XPRIZE (GLXP) has garnered a lot of media attention recently after ISRO pulled out of an agreement to launch their spacecraft. GLXP required them to build a rover which would soft land on the surface of the moon and travel 500m before sending images back to Earth. Since the deadline ended on 31st March 2018, the Lunar XPRIZE now runs as a non-cash prize competition. Team Indus still aims to launch their rover named ‘ECA’ sometime in 2019.
Earth2Orbit
Earth2Orbit was started in 2008 by Sushmita Mohanty. Considered the first space startup of India, Earth2Orbit began with a goal of providing launch advisory services. It launched its first client satellite onboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the Fall of 2012. The client was the Osaka Institute of Technology from Japan and the payload was a university-built 15kg micro-satellite called PROITERES-1. In 2016, the company moved its focus to earth observation and analytics; the company was renamed “Earth2Orbit Analytix” with the mission to support global climate action by making human activities, both urban and rural, climate smart. Read our recent interview with Sushmita Mohanty!
Dhruva Space
Dhruva Space was started in 2012 by Sanjay Nekkanti and Narayan Prasad, both in their 20s, to lead the spacecraft development private industry in India. The two space buffs met during their double degree Erasmus Mundus Space Master program in Sweden and France, where they decided to start their own firm to make an impact in the private space sector in India. The main goal of Dhruva Space is to offer consulting and technology services to university satellite developers in India. In 2014, it collaborated with AMSAT India to launch the HAMSAT-II satellite.
Astrome Technologies
Neha Satak and Prasad HL Bhat, the co-founders of Astrome
Source: This space entrepreneur from a small town in Rajasthan is taking on the Elon Musks of the world
The idea of providing high-speed internet from space has been around for quite sometime now. But it is only recently that company such as SpaceX and OneWeb are investing their money and efforts in making this idea a reality. Now, Astrome Technology from India is in that race, too. Founded in 2014 by Neha Satak and Prasad H.L Bhatt, Astrome aims to provide high-speed broadband internet from space with the help of their patented multimeter wave technology. Incubated at Indian Institute of Science (IISC) in Bengaluru, the company aims to achieve its goals with the help of satellite constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO). They plan to launch their first set of high capacity satellites in 2019 and then more in 2020 that will ensure high-speed broadband connectivity to the most remote places on Earth.
Bellatrix Aerospace
Rohan M. Ganapathy, CEO and Yashas Karanam, COO of Bellatrix Corporation, receiving an award from the then President Pranab Mukherjee in 2017
Source: Final frontier: Sky is the limit for 2 IISc start-ups
Bellatrix Aerospace is a research and development company developing orbital launch vehicles and electric propulsion systems for satellites. Founded by Rohan Ganapathy in 2015, the company was started in a small office in Coimbatore. Currently, the two proposed rockets “Garuda” and “Chetak” are under development. Both rockets will be reusable, hence making them the economical option. Bellatrix has also patented a new satellite propulsion system called “Microwave Electro-Thermal Thrusters” (MET), which is believed to be more efficient from traditional chemical thrusters. Additionally, they are in the process of developing technologies for future defense industry such as unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.
Xovian
Xovian was started by Ankit Bhateja and Raghav Sharma in 2011 in New Delhi. Incorporated in 2014, Xovian started out with a vision of providing low-cost sustainable solutions in satellite fabrication. The company also works actively in bridging the gap between the industry and education with the help of workshops like CANSAT. It also performs R&D activities related to sounding rockets, high altitude balloons, and satellite component manufacturing.
The Indian Space Startup Ecosystem
There are over a thousand space startups all around the world. India’s share of these startups remains less than 1%.
The Indian Space Startup Ecosystem is still relatively new to the arena. Considering the space industry is capital intensive and activities come with a long gestation period, the road gets more challenging for space startups. Funding has always been an issue in the space sector. A lack of proper national space legislation in India has also hurt the cause for these startups. Indian startups’ biggest need is to have a structured space startup incubation program that would encourage people to come out with their ideas and get their ventures going, without having to worry about other external factors.
New Space in India
Source: Satsearch
But wait, not all hope is lost. Recent happenings prove that India is serious about space entrepreneurship and steps are being taken to move in that direction.
The Kerala state government has collaborated with ISRO to promote and incubate the space startups in India. It will set up India’s first of its kind space park with the technical support from ISRO. The main purpose of the space park would be to provide a common platform for the aspiring entrepreneurs and the experts from ISRO. While the project is still in its early stage, it is expected to be the hub of space startups once it is completed.
Another Indian New Space company named SatSure Analytics has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of ISRO. SatSure Analytics is a large area analytics company, providing products and solutions for sustainable development initiative by combining the power of satellite big data, internet of things (IoT), and machine learning. This collaboration will help develop the geospatial data analytics industry in India, as well as develop a framework for ISRO to nurture Indian space startups.
Recently, ISRO has also shown interest in transferring its in-house technology of producing Li-ion batteries to several startups in the country. This initiative further proves that ISRO is taking steps to encourage local startups. ISRO should continue proactively encouraging the space startup sector so that more and more people come out to help the space sector.
There is a clear need to set up an incubation program particularly for the space sector. This incubator will provide a path to the startups and will give them a platform to launch their products. The involvement of ISRO will also help the startups fetch some valuable amount of funding from national and foreign sources.
With initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, and Startup India, the government has been able to push the startup sector. What is now needed is to frame a program exclusively for space startups that will benefit the space entrepreneurs and help them make an impact in the space industry.
With the continued success of ISRO and government investing heavily on startups in India, we can expect more space entrepreneurs to take the lead and help India reach out for the stars. Now is a great time for us space enthusiasts; anyone with an idea and a good team to back it up can make their mark in the space industry. So, what are you waiting for? How are you going to make an impact in this multi-billion dollar industry and use it for the betterment of society?
New Space in India - ASTROPRENEURS
The Indian space program was established with a very different goal in mind. Unlike its western counterparts where the space industry began and evolved due to military expenditure during the Cold War, the Indian space program mainly focused on achieving self-reliance that would help solve the problems of the nation. In the words of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian Space program, “There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight. But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society.”
The private space industry has recently grown rapidly around the world. This growth has given rise to a new terminology, New Space, which encompasses the privately funded space companies and ventures, globally. These companies aim to provide low cost and visionary commercial space technologies which would ultimately make space more affordable and accessible, while significantly improving the quality of lives here on Earth.
The Indian space program dates back to 1969, when the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was established. Since then, the Indian space program has come a long way. Earlier this year, the 100th satellite launched helping India establish itself as one of the fast-rising space nations around the world.
Still, India’s share of the global $400 billion space market is less than 0.01%. The private space sector has recently started to take shape in India with some of these companies influencing the global space industry. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Team Indus
Source: Facebook/TeamIndus
Team Indus is probably the most well-known space startup in India. The only Indian team to be the finalists of Google Lunar XPRIZE (GLXP) has garnered a lot of media attention recently after ISRO pulled out of an agreement to launch their spacecraft. GLXP required them to build a rover which would soft land on the surface of the moon and travel 500m before sending images back to Earth. Since the deadline ended on 31st March 2018, the Lunar XPRIZE now runs as a non-cash prize competition. Team Indus still aims to launch their rover named ‘ECA’ sometime in 2019.
Earth2Orbit
Earth2Orbit was started in 2008 by Sushmita Mohanty. Considered the first space startup of India, Earth2Orbit began with a goal of providing launch advisory services. It launched its first client satellite onboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the Fall of 2012. The client was the Osaka Institute of Technology from Japan and the payload was a university-built 15kg micro-satellite called PROITERES-1. In 2016, the company moved its focus to earth observation and analytics; the company was renamed “Earth2Orbit Analytix” with the mission to support global climate action by making human activities, both urban and rural, climate smart. Read our recent interview with Sushmita Mohanty!
Dhruva Space
Dhruva Space was started in 2012 by Sanjay Nekkanti and Narayan Prasad, both in their 20s, to lead the spacecraft development private industry in India. The two space buffs met during their double degree Erasmus Mundus Space Master program in Sweden and France, where they decided to start their own firm to make an impact in the private space sector in India. The main goal of Dhruva Space is to offer consulting and technology services to university satellite developers in India. In 2014, it collaborated with AMSAT India to launch the HAMSAT-II satellite.
Astrome Technologies
Source: This space entrepreneur from a small town in Rajasthan is taking on the Elon Musks of the world
The idea of providing high-speed internet from space has been around for quite sometime now. But it is only recently that company such as SpaceX and OneWeb are investing their money and efforts in making this idea a reality. Now, Astrome Technology from India is in that race, too. Founded in 2014 by Neha Satak and Prasad H.L Bhatt, Astrome aims to provide high-speed broadband internet from space with the help of their patented multimeter wave technology. Incubated at Indian Institute of Science (IISC) in Bengaluru, the company aims to achieve its goals with the help of satellite constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO). They plan to launch their first set of high capacity satellites in 2019 and then more in 2020 that will ensure high-speed broadband connectivity to the most remote places on Earth.
Bellatrix Aerospace
Source: Final frontier: Sky is the limit for 2 IISc start-ups
Bellatrix Aerospace is a research and development company developing orbital launch vehicles and electric propulsion systems for satellites. Founded by Rohan Ganapathy in 2015, the company was started in a small office in Coimbatore. Currently, the two proposed rockets “Garuda” and “Chetak” are under development. Both rockets will be reusable, hence making them the economical option. Bellatrix has also patented a new satellite propulsion system called “Microwave Electro-Thermal Thrusters” (MET), which is believed to be more efficient from traditional chemical thrusters. Additionally, they are in the process of developing technologies for future defense industry such as unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.
Xovian
Xovian was started by Ankit Bhateja and Raghav Sharma in 2011 in New Delhi. Incorporated in 2014, Xovian started out with a vision of providing low-cost sustainable solutions in satellite fabrication. The company also works actively in bridging the gap between the industry and education with the help of workshops like CANSAT. It also performs R&D activities related to sounding rockets, high altitude balloons, and satellite component manufacturing.
The Indian Space Startup Ecosystem
There are over a thousand space startups all around the world. India’s share of these startups remains less than 1%.
The Indian Space Startup Ecosystem is still relatively new to the arena. Considering the space industry is capital intensive and activities come with a long gestation period, the road gets more challenging for space startups. Funding has always been an issue in the space sector. A lack of proper national space legislation in India has also hurt the cause for these startups. Indian startups’ biggest need is to have a structured space startup incubation program that would encourage people to come out with their ideas and get their ventures going, without having to worry about other external factors.
Source: Satsearch
But wait, not all hope is lost. Recent happenings prove that India is serious about space entrepreneurship and steps are being taken to move in that direction.
The Kerala state government has collaborated with ISRO to promote and incubate the space startups in India. It will set up India’s first of its kind space park with the technical support from ISRO. The main purpose of the space park would be to provide a common platform for the aspiring entrepreneurs and the experts from ISRO. While the project is still in its early stage, it is expected to be the hub of space startups once it is completed.
Another Indian New Space company named SatSure Analytics has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of ISRO. SatSure Analytics is a large area analytics company, providing products and solutions for sustainable development initiative by combining the power of satellite big data, internet of things (IoT), and machine learning. This collaboration will help develop the geospatial data analytics industry in India, as well as develop a framework for ISRO to nurture Indian space startups.
Recently, ISRO has also shown interest in transferring its in-house technology of producing Li-ion batteries to several startups in the country. This initiative further proves that ISRO is taking steps to encourage local startups. ISRO should continue proactively encouraging the space startup sector so that more and more people come out to help the space sector.
There is a clear need to set up an incubation program particularly for the space sector. This incubator will provide a path to the startups and will give them a platform to launch their products. The involvement of ISRO will also help the startups fetch some valuable amount of funding from national and foreign sources.
With initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, and Startup India, the government has been able to push the startup sector. What is now needed is to frame a program exclusively for space startups that will benefit the space entrepreneurs and help them make an impact in the space industry.
With the continued success of ISRO and government investing heavily on startups in India, we can expect more space entrepreneurs to take the lead and help India reach out for the stars. Now is a great time for us space enthusiasts; anyone with an idea and a good team to back it up can make their mark in the space industry. So, what are you waiting for? How are you going to make an impact in this multi-billion dollar industry and use it for the betterment of society?
New Space in India - ASTROPRENEURS
ASTROSAT PICTURE OF THE MONTH (APOM) – JULY 2018
Seeing a galaxy in ‘colour’
Seeing a galaxy in ‘colour’
We have met NGC 7252 before, where we had shown you an ultraviolet image of the loops and tails of gas and dust ripped apart from two galaxies as they merged to form NGC 7252. This month, we zoom in to look at the central part of the merging galaxy itself, but in colour!
UVIT onboard ASTROSAT imaged this galaxy in the Near UV (around 242 nanometres) and the Far UV (around 148 nanometres). When we divide these two images pixel by pixel, we get an 'ultraviolet colour' image. Imagine a light bulb emitting all visible colours. We will perceive it as a particular colour depending on the fraction of red versus green versus blue light it emits. Similarly, dividing the FUV and the NUV images will tell us what the 'ultraviolet colour' of NGC 7252 is, and how this colour varies across the galaxy. These 'ultraviolet colours' are represented as red to blue in the image here.
FUV − NUV colour map of NGC7252
Remember, NGC 7252 is born out of two galaxies merging together. This merger is a violent event whose effects on the gas in these galaxies is complex. The authors of this study explain how this merger would naturally lead to this scenario where different parts of the galaxy hosts stars of different ages. These have been discussed in detail in https://arxiv.org/pdf/1805.03543.pdf.
ASTROSAT PICTURE OF THE MONTH (APOM) – JULY 2018 - ISRO
Electric Propulsion System
ISRO is working on Electric Propulsion System (EPS) which can reduce the dependence on chemical propellant. The EPS system was first flown on South Asia Satellite (SAS) – GSAT-9 launched in the year 2017 and is working satisfactory.
With the help of EPS, satellite weight can be reduced as the chemical propellants are replaced by electrical system, the weight of which is not so significant compared to chemical propellant.
A 4 tonne satellite with EPS can do the work of 6 tonne satellite with the same efficiency. In addition, it will also have few extra years of life compared to chemical propulsion.
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, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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BB/NK/PK
(Release ID :181311)
ISRO is working on Electric Propulsion System (EPS) which can reduce the dependence on chemical propellant. The EPS system was first flown on South Asia Satellite (SAS) – GSAT-9 launched in the year 2017 and is working satisfactory.
With the help of EPS, satellite weight can be reduced as the chemical propellants are replaced by electrical system, the weight of which is not so significant compared to chemical propellant.
A 4 tonne satellite with EPS can do the work of 6 tonne satellite with the same efficiency. In addition, it will also have few extra years of life compared to chemical propulsion.
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, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
******
BB/NK/PK
(Release ID :181311)
Navigation Satellites
IRNSS-1I spacecraft was successfully launched aboard PSLV-C41 on 12th April 2018. The spacecraft was the replacement for IRNSS-1A and is providing intended navigation services. However, IRNSS-1A continues to provide messaging services like disaster alerts and other societal applications.
The subsequent launches include GSLV-MK III that is planned to launch GSAT-29, PSLV-C42 launch and Chandrayaan-2 Mission.
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, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
******
BB/NK/PK
IRNSS-1I spacecraft was successfully launched aboard PSLV-C41 on 12th April 2018. The spacecraft was the replacement for IRNSS-1A and is providing intended navigation services. However, IRNSS-1A continues to provide messaging services like disaster alerts and other societal applications.
The subsequent launches include GSLV-MK III that is planned to launch GSAT-29, PSLV-C42 launch and Chandrayaan-2 Mission.
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, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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BB/NK/PK
Making of Green Propellant
ISRO is developing green propellants for use in future rocket & satellite propulsion systems. All space faring nations have been investigating green propulsion systems to minimise environmental impact while improving overall efficiency and economy. ISRO has made a beginning by developing an eco-friendly solid propellant based on Glycidyl Azide Polymer (GAP) as fuel and Ammonium Di-Nitramide (ADN) as oxidizer at the laboratory level, which will eliminate the emission of chlorinated exhaust products from rocket motors. In addition, ISRO is also carrying out various technology demonstration projects involving green propellant combinations such as Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), Kerosene, Liquid Oxygen (LOX), Liquid Methane, ADN-Methanol-water, ADN-Glycerol-water etc.
ISRO has already begun the move towards environment-friendly and green propellants with the acceptance of Liquid Oxygen (LOX)/Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) and LOX/Kerosene based propulsion systems for launch vehicles, and use of electric propulsion for spacecraft. The LOX/LH2 combination is already being used in the cryogenic upper stages of GSLV and GSLV Mk-III launch vehicles. ISRO has successfully developed ISROSENE, which is a rocket grade version of kerosene as an alternative to conventional hydrazine rocket fuel. ISRO has successfully demonstrated electric propulsion system for station keeping operations in the South Asia Satellite, launched on May 5, 2017.
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, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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(Release ID :181398)
ISRO is developing green propellants for use in future rocket & satellite propulsion systems. All space faring nations have been investigating green propulsion systems to minimise environmental impact while improving overall efficiency and economy. ISRO has made a beginning by developing an eco-friendly solid propellant based on Glycidyl Azide Polymer (GAP) as fuel and Ammonium Di-Nitramide (ADN) as oxidizer at the laboratory level, which will eliminate the emission of chlorinated exhaust products from rocket motors. In addition, ISRO is also carrying out various technology demonstration projects involving green propellant combinations such as Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), Kerosene, Liquid Oxygen (LOX), Liquid Methane, ADN-Methanol-water, ADN-Glycerol-water etc.
ISRO has already begun the move towards environment-friendly and green propellants with the acceptance of Liquid Oxygen (LOX)/Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) and LOX/Kerosene based propulsion systems for launch vehicles, and use of electric propulsion for spacecraft. The LOX/LH2 combination is already being used in the cryogenic upper stages of GSLV and GSLV Mk-III launch vehicles. ISRO has successfully developed ISROSENE, which is a rocket grade version of kerosene as an alternative to conventional hydrazine rocket fuel. ISRO has successfully demonstrated electric propulsion system for station keeping operations in the South Asia Satellite, launched on May 5, 2017.
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, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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(Release ID :181398)
Reusable Launch Vehicle
On May 23, 2016, India became the fifth nation to successfully conduct the flight demonstration of a scaled down version of a winged-body reusable launch vehicle, thereby validating the critical technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance & control, reusable thermal protection system and re-entry mission management. This flight represented the first baby step towards the realisation of a future fully reusable Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) space transportation system.
A fully reusable Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) Launch Vehicle, that can launch payloads to Low Earth Orbit with 15 times reusability, is expected to reduce the launch cost by approximately 50 - 60% when compared to that of an expendable launch vehicle.
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, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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(Release ID :181397)
On May 23, 2016, India became the fifth nation to successfully conduct the flight demonstration of a scaled down version of a winged-body reusable launch vehicle, thereby validating the critical technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance & control, reusable thermal protection system and re-entry mission management. This flight represented the first baby step towards the realisation of a future fully reusable Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) space transportation system.
A fully reusable Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) Launch Vehicle, that can launch payloads to Low Earth Orbit with 15 times reusability, is expected to reduce the launch cost by approximately 50 - 60% when compared to that of an expendable launch vehicle.
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, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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(Release ID :181397)
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:
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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(Release ID :181685)
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:
- Third generation Cartosat series satellite for very high resolution mapping
- Second generation stereo imaging satellite for Digital Elevation Model
- Geostationary Imaging Satellite (GISAT) for Earth observation from Geostationary Orbit
- Third generation Ocean imaging satellite for ocean colour, sea surface temperature mapping and ocean surface wind vector mapping
- Third generation ResourceSat series of satellite with improved spatial resolution and swath
- C-band microwave imaging satellite for all weather and day & night imaging
- Constellation of high resolution imaging satellites for frequent revisit
- Nanosatellite for Aerosol monitoring
- 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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(Release ID :181685)
More than 200 foreign 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 foreign 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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(Release ID :181695)
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 foreign 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.
****
BB/NK/PK/SS
(Release ID :181695)
Isro’s heaviest sat launch from French Guiana on Nov 30
Isro’s heaviest sat launch from French Guiana on Nov 30: Sivan - Times of India
Isro’s heaviest sat launch from French Guiana on Nov 30: Sivan - Times of India
Indian telescope near Pune discovers most distant radio galaxy ever observed
A team led by PhD student Aayush Saxena from Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands just broke a 20-year-old record of the most distant radio galaxy ever discovered.
Initially using the Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Khodad (near Pune), Maharashtra, the astronomers identified a galaxy from a time when the universe was only seven percent of its current age. The distance to the galaxy, located 12 billion light-years away, was later determined using Hawaii's Gemini North telescope and the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona.
GMRT is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes of 45-metre diameter. It is operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
A redshift of z=5.72 meant that the galaxy was perceived as it looked when the universe was only a billion years old, according to the study in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. This also means that we are now seeing what the galaxy looked like 12 billion years ago.
The GMRT near Pune. Image courtesy: NCRA
"It is very surprising how these galaxies have built up their mass in such a short period of time," Saxena said.
"Bright radio galaxies harbour supermassive black holes. It is amazing to find such objects as early in the history of the universe; the time for these supermassive black holes to form and grow must have been very short," Huub Rottgering, also from Leiden Observatory, said. The team consists of astronomers from the Netherlands, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Italy.
Radio galaxies are very rare objects in the universe. They are colossal galaxies with a supermassive black hole in their centre that actively accretes gas and dust from its surroundings.
This activity initiates the launch of high-energy jet streams, which are capable of accelerating charged particles around the supermassive black hole to almost the speed of light. These jets are very clearly observed at radio wavelengths.
The fact that such galaxies exist in the distant universe has surprised multiple astronomers. The discovery of such galaxies at extremely large distances is important for our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies, researchers said.
Studying these radio galaxies in detail also sheds light on the formation of primordial black holes, which have driven and regulated the growth of galaxies, they said.
Indian telescope near Pune discovers most distant radio galaxy ever observed- Technology News, Firstpost
A team led by PhD student Aayush Saxena from Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands just broke a 20-year-old record of the most distant radio galaxy ever discovered.
Initially using the Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Khodad (near Pune), Maharashtra, the astronomers identified a galaxy from a time when the universe was only seven percent of its current age. The distance to the galaxy, located 12 billion light-years away, was later determined using Hawaii's Gemini North telescope and the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona.
GMRT is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes of 45-metre diameter. It is operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
A redshift of z=5.72 meant that the galaxy was perceived as it looked when the universe was only a billion years old, according to the study in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. This also means that we are now seeing what the galaxy looked like 12 billion years ago.
The GMRT near Pune. Image courtesy: NCRA
"It is very surprising how these galaxies have built up their mass in such a short period of time," Saxena said.
"Bright radio galaxies harbour supermassive black holes. It is amazing to find such objects as early in the history of the universe; the time for these supermassive black holes to form and grow must have been very short," Huub Rottgering, also from Leiden Observatory, said. The team consists of astronomers from the Netherlands, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Italy.
Radio galaxies are very rare objects in the universe. They are colossal galaxies with a supermassive black hole in their centre that actively accretes gas and dust from its surroundings.
This activity initiates the launch of high-energy jet streams, which are capable of accelerating charged particles around the supermassive black hole to almost the speed of light. These jets are very clearly observed at radio wavelengths.
The fact that such galaxies exist in the distant universe has surprised multiple astronomers. The discovery of such galaxies at extremely large distances is important for our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies, researchers said.
Studying these radio galaxies in detail also sheds light on the formation of primordial black holes, which have driven and regulated the growth of galaxies, they said.
Indian telescope near Pune discovers most distant radio galaxy ever observed- Technology News, Firstpost
India is also leading the program to build the largest telescope in the world.
India Joins World’s Experts to Design the Largest Radio Telescope on Earth
Square Kilometre Array
Random radio, gents.
India Joins World’s Experts to Design the Largest Radio Telescope on Earth
Square Kilometre Array
Random radio, gents.