Indian Space Program: News & Discussions
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Though this time filming has shown considerable improvement, however below link describes how the NASA put great effort to produce such excellent footage of launching of rocket at the time when there was no HD Cam or go pro for recording, however, credit for video recording of launching of rocket goes to the Germans during WWII.
Pics from yesterday's GSLV-F11 launch...
...The F11 is approximately 1.8 meters longer than previous GSLV Mk.2s because of the bigger CE-15 cryogenic upper stage...
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The GSAT 7A and What it Does:
" ... GSAT-7A, with its four steerable antennas for regional coverage and a gregorian antenna with ten transponders for narrow beam coverage across the Indian region (as per ISRO), will appreciably reduce the current reliance of the IAF’s ground control stations (GCS) on short distance VHF links. This means that Indian armed UAV operations need not necessarily take place close to only Indian airspace in the years ahead. GSAT-7A’s wide coverage footprint will also increase basing options for the IAF’s armed drones. Of course, for very high tempo operations more such communications satellites will be required. Which is probably why a GSAT-7C for the IAF is also in the works.
With an expected life of eight years, GSAT-7A will also serve to improve the IAF’s overall Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities by improving connectivity between ground installations, mobile radars and airborne assets. GSAT-7A will tie-in with the AFNET which provides the backbone for the Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS) used by the IAF to manage network-enabled operations ... "
- Saurav Jha (Delhi Defence Review)
I must say, things like NaVIC (IRNSS), GAGAN, IACCS and SATCOM-augmented networking is going to revolutionize the way the IAF will conduct air operations in the near future.With an expected life of eight years, GSAT-7A will also serve to improve the IAF’s overall Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities by improving connectivity between ground installations, mobile radars and airborne assets. GSAT-7A will tie-in with the AFNET which provides the backbone for the Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS) used by the IAF to manage network-enabled operations ... "
- Saurav Jha (Delhi Defence Review)
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ISRO to Launch Satellite Hub for Speedy Data Transfers & Satellite-Monitoring in 2019
As part of its proposed manned space mission, India will launch the Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS) to improve data relay and communication links with its remote sensing/earth observation satellites, said a top official of the ISRO.
The two-satellite IDRSS will maintain a continuous communication link with India's remote sensing/earth observation satellites and also with the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III) that would carry three Indian astronauts to space in 2022. "We are planning to launch two satellites under IDRSS. The first one is expected to be launched in 2019," K. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), told IANS.
Officials told IANS that continuous communication link was important in the case of human space mission as the rocket carrying the Indian astronauts cannot be without a link. Manned mission apart, IDRSS will maintain a continuous communication link with Indian remote sensing/earth observation and other satellites in low earth orbit.
Representational image: The American TDRS-12, which forms part of NASA's Tracking & Data-Relay Satellite System (TDRSS)
The proposed system will also reduce the dependence on the ground stations in tracking satellites, an ISRO official told IANS. India has the largest remote sensing satellite system orbiting in space. Further, the data capture and transfer capabilities of remote sensing satellites are increasing with newer technologies.
"India is launching many satellites — nano, micro and small — in the low earth orbit. Their monitoring is now done by the ground stations in India and outside. But monitoring of satellites by ground station has gaps. The visibility of Indian remote sensing satellites for ground stations is not more than 10-15 minutes and in some cases, it is five minutes or less," an industry expert told IANS preferring anonymity.
There is also a heavy reliance on ground stations in other countries, he added.
He said with IDRSS in place, the visibility range will go up for monitoring and communicating with earth observation satellites. The other benefit is that the communication and data transfer could be in real time as the remote sensing satellites can relay the data gathered to IDRSS satellites which in turn can transmit them to the ground.
The expert said IDRSS will be like a hub as it can receive the commands from the ground stations and in turn relay the same to other satellites.
The IDRSS can also monitor a rocket from the time it lifts off from the launch pad. Space-faring nations like the US, China, Japan and Europe have such data relay satellite systems. The IDRSS will also be of great use for India's strategic sectors as the data can be obtained on a real-time basis, another expert told IANS, preferring anonymity.
ISRO to launch satellite hub for speedy data transfers, satellite monitoring in 2019- Technology News, Firstpost
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ISRO Says Placing Heavier Satellites Aboard GSLVs Next Challenge
ISRO Says Placing Heavier Satellites Aboard GSLVs Next Challenge
ISRO said it will make bigger payload compartment to accommodate still bigger spacecrafts onboard in GSLV.
All India | Press Trust of India | Updated: December 19, 2018 21:32 IST
ISRO's GSLV-F11 placed the military communication satellite GSAT-7A into its intended orbit on Wednesday
ISRO's GSLV-F11 placed the military communication satellite GSAT-7A into its intended orbit on Wednesday
Sriharikota:
ISRO will undertake placing heavier satellites onboard its geosynchronous launch vehicle in future following the successful launch of an advanced communication satellite on Wednesday, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Director S Somanath said.
"There is always (scope of) further improvements in GSLV and in the coming GSLV-F10s and F12 missions, we are going to make bigger payload compartment to accommodate still bigger spacecrafts and that is another important challenge in front of us," he said.
He said the scientists were ready for that change and to make sure that the GSLV continues to remain very successful and "rugged" vehicle like ISRO's trusted workhorse, the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle).
ISRO's GSLV-F11, carrying the 2,250kg GSAT-7A, lifted off at 4.10 pm on Wednesday from the second launch pad at Sriharikota, situated about 110 km from Chennai, and placed the communication satellite into its intended orbit about 19 minutes after lift-off.
Earlier, referring to the salient features of the GSLV-F11 launch, Mr Somanath said the vehicle was an improved version where scientists brought changes in the cryogenic stage as well as second stage to improve payload capability.
"This resulted in a lot of engineering changes and new elements. The (GSLV) vehicle itself is 1.5 metres longer than the previous GSLVs and it calls for understanding aerodynamics, hardware design and control systems," he said.
He congratulated the ISRO team for "meticulously" undertaking all the new changes and making a successful launch.
"This is sixth consecutive success of the GSLV. It only shows that this vehicle is going to stay longer and to make more missions in the years to come with improved capability," he said.
ISRO Chairman K Sivan said GSLV-7A was India's heaviest satellite with indigenous cryogenic stage.
He said the second stage propellant loading of the vehicle has been increased from 37.5 tons to 40 tons while cryogenic stage propellant loading from 12 tons to 15 tons along with enhanced thrust value for cryogenic stage, he said.
"This has been successfully demonstrated in this mission and we got 2,000 km more than what we expected. This is a great achievement," he said.
Referring to how presence of cyclone Phethai in Bay of Bengal created "anxious" moments for ISRO scientists, Mr Sivan said, "This particular mission has given clearly a lot of anxiety to all of us. Because the weather god was not conducive for us (for) a week."
"Under this environment, definitely the Met team from Sriharikota rose to the occasion to take care of any eventuality and the way they gave confidence to us, clearly the launch campaign was managed nicely," he said.
Phethai lashed coastal Andhra Pradesh on Monday, triggering heavy rains, uprooting trees and electric poles, and claiming one life before moving towards Odisha.
Chandrayaan-2 on track, 32 missions next year: ISRO
Chandrayaan-2 on track, 32 missions next year: ISRO
ISRO Chairman K Sivan on Wednesday claimed the Chandrayaan-2 project was on track and the space agency was planning to carry out 32 missions next year.
Published: 20th December 2018 05:02 AM | Last Updated: 20th December 2018 05:02 AM
ISRO Chairman K Sivan (File | PTI)
By Express News Service
SRIHARIKOTA: ISRO Chairman K Sivan on Wednesday claimed the Chandrayaan-2 project was on track and the space agency was planning to carry out 32 missions next year.
"It will be a busy 2019 year for us. Chandrayaan-2 launch is being planned in the first quarter of 2019. The launch window is between January 3 to February end. We are striving hard for that," he said.
ISRO has managed to accomplish 17 missions this year and the next target is raised to 32 missions.
Quick read:
35 days, 3 launches:
- This is the seventh and last launch in 2018.
- GSLV-F11 is the 7th flight of GSLV Mk11.
- The satellite GSAT-7A is the 35th Indian communication satellite. It weights 2,250 kg.
- The satellite is built to provide communication capability to users in the Ku-band over the Indian region.
- Customised for military operations, GSAT-7A will improve real-time aircraft-to-aircraft communication.
- The rocket is equipped with the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage.
- This three-stage launch vehicle is 51 meters tall and has a lift-off mass of about 421 tonnes.
- GSLV-F11 incorporates some major improvements. While the High Thrust Vikas Engine in the second stage enhances the vehicle performance, induction of electro-mechanical actuation system leads to improved reliability.
- GSAT-7A is the heaviest satellite being launched by GSLV with an indigenously developed cryogenic stage.
In the last 35 days, ISRO has successfully launched three missions from SDSC, starting with GSLV MkIII-D2 on November14, PSLV-C43 on November 29, and finally GSLV-F11 on Wednesday.
Mission life: 8 years
ISRO's Planned Launch Schedule for 2019:
7-8 x PSLV launches ( C44 through C52 )
2 x GSLV Mk.2 launches ( F12, F13 ? )
2 x GSLV Mk.3 developmental/operational launches ( D3, D4 ? )
2 x SSLV test-launches
1 x GSLV Mk.3 test launch for purposes of Gaganyaan program (unclear if the 2 Mk.3 launches are including this or not)
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(translated from Portuguese)
The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has concluded the process for contracting the services that will put Amazonia-1, the first fully-designed earth observation satellite assembled and tested in Brazil, into orbit. The US company Spaceflight Inc has won international competition and will launch with the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket from a base in India in 2020.
Amazonia-1 is currently in the pre-launch phase of the Integration and Testing Laboratory (LIT) of INPE, in São José dos Campos (SP). Follow the activities of Amazonia-1 here: https://www.facebook.com/amazonia1inpe
The images of the Brazilian satellite will be used to observe and monitor deforestation especially in the Amazon region, as well as the diversified vegetation and agriculture throughout the national territory.
With the Amazonia-1, Brazil will dominate the complete development cycle of this type of satellite, from the project to the integration and operation in orbit. The project boosts Brazil's aerospace industry by promoting 100% national technologies.
The launch of Amazonia-1 also represents the in-flight validation of the Multi-Mission Platform (PMM), which can be used in various satellite missions (meteorological, scientific and remote sensing, among others). Reproduction of the PMM for use in future missions will bring significant reductions in deadlines and costs on upcoming satellites.
Definido o lançamento do satélite brasileiro Amazonia-1
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Another tid-bit from VSSC Director Dr. S. Somanath: The SSLV can be assembled both vertically (like PSLV, GSLV) as well as horizontally (like the older SLV, ASLV and many bigger foreign rockets).
7-8 x PSLV launches ( C44 through C52 )
2 x GSLV Mk.2 launches ( F12, F13 ? )
2 x GSLV Mk.3 developmental/operational launches ( D3, D4 ? )
2 x SSLV test-launches
1 x GSLV Mk.3 test launch for purposes of Gaganyaan program (unclear if the 2 Mk.3 launches are including this or not)
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(translated from Portuguese)
PSLV to Launch Brazil's Amazonia-1 Satellite
The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has concluded the process for contracting the services that will put Amazonia-1, the first fully-designed earth observation satellite assembled and tested in Brazil, into orbit. The US company Spaceflight Inc has won international competition and will launch with the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket from a base in India in 2020.
Amazonia-1 is currently in the pre-launch phase of the Integration and Testing Laboratory (LIT) of INPE, in São José dos Campos (SP). Follow the activities of Amazonia-1 here: https://www.facebook.com/amazonia1inpe
Amazonia-1 Artist Render
The images of the Brazilian satellite will be used to observe and monitor deforestation especially in the Amazon region, as well as the diversified vegetation and agriculture throughout the national territory.
With the Amazonia-1, Brazil will dominate the complete development cycle of this type of satellite, from the project to the integration and operation in orbit. The project boosts Brazil's aerospace industry by promoting 100% national technologies.
The launch of Amazonia-1 also represents the in-flight validation of the Multi-Mission Platform (PMM), which can be used in various satellite missions (meteorological, scientific and remote sensing, among others). Reproduction of the PMM for use in future missions will bring significant reductions in deadlines and costs on upcoming satellites.
Definido o lançamento do satélite brasileiro Amazonia-1
+++
Another tid-bit from VSSC Director Dr. S. Somanath: The SSLV can be assembled both vertically (like PSLV, GSLV) as well as horizontally (like the older SLV, ASLV and many bigger foreign rockets).