News Analysis India

Tag: Indian Space Research Organisation

  • India’s heaviest rocket LVM3’s payload capability enhanced with successful engine test 

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: The payload capability of India’s heaviest rocket LVM3 has been enhanced by up to 450 kg with a successful engine test, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation.

    The CE20 cryogenic engine indigenously developed for LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3) was subjected to a successful hot test at an uprated thrust level of 21.8 tonnes for the first time on November 9, the country’s national space agency headquartered here said in a statement.

    “This will enhance the LVM3 payload capability up to 450 kg with additional propellant loading”, it said.

    The major modification carried out on this test article compared to previous engines was the introduction of a Thrust Control Valve (TCV) for thrust control, ISRO said.

    “In addition to this, 3D printed LOX and LH2 turbine exhaust casings were inducted into the engine for the first time.

    During this test, the engine operated with approximately 20-tonne thrust level for the first 40s, then the thrust level was increased to 21.8 tonnes by moving the thrust control valve,” the statement said.

    “During the test, engine and facility performance was normal and required parameters were achieved,” it said.

    LVM3, a three-stage vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons, a liquid propellant core stage and a cryogenic stage, is capable of launching a four-tonne class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer orbit.

    BENGALURU: The payload capability of India’s heaviest rocket LVM3 has been enhanced by up to 450 kg with a successful engine test, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation.

    The CE20 cryogenic engine indigenously developed for LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3) was subjected to a successful hot test at an uprated thrust level of 21.8 tonnes for the first time on November 9, the country’s national space agency headquartered here said in a statement.

    “This will enhance the LVM3 payload capability up to 450 kg with additional propellant loading”, it said.

    The major modification carried out on this test article compared to previous engines was the introduction of a Thrust Control Valve (TCV) for thrust control, ISRO said.

    “In addition to this, 3D printed LOX and LH2 turbine exhaust casings were inducted into the engine for the first time.

    During this test, the engine operated with approximately 20-tonne thrust level for the first 40s, then the thrust level was increased to 21.8 tonnes by moving the thrust control valve,” the statement said.

    “During the test, engine and facility performance was normal and required parameters were achieved,” it said.

    LVM3, a three-stage vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons, a liquid propellant core stage and a cryogenic stage, is capable of launching a four-tonne class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer orbit.

  • ISRO plans to return to Mars, explore dark side of moon with Japan

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: After missions to the moon and Mars, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has now set its eyes on Venus and also plans to explore the dark side of the moon in collaboration with Japan.

    Making a presentation on ISRO’s future missions at the Akash Tattva conference here, Anil Bhardwaj, Director of the Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory, said the space agency also planned to send a probe to Mars.

    Bhardwaj said it was in talks with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for sending a lunar rover to explore the permanent shadow region of the moon.

    As per the initial plans, a lunar lander and rover built by ISRO will be put into orbit by a Japanese rocket with a planned landing near the south pole of the moon.

    “The rover will then travel to the permanent shadow region of the moon which never sees sunlight,” Bhardwaj said.

    He said the exploration of the region was interesting as anything that has remained in the PSR zone was akin to staying in deep freeze for times immemorial.

    Bhardwaj said the Aditya L-1 would a unique mission in which a 400-kg class satellite carrying the payload would be placed in an orbit around the Sun in such a way that it can continuously view the star from a point called the Lagrange Point L-1.

    The orbit would be located 1.5 million kilometres away from the Earth and it would try to understand the coronal heating, solar wind acceleration and the initiation of coronal mass ejection, flares and near-earth space weather.

    Bhardwaj said the Aditya L-1 and the Chandrayaan-3 missions would be taken up on priority as early as next year and were likely to be followed by the mission to Venus and the mission to the moon with JAXA.

    The success of the lunar rover on board Chandrayaan-3 was crucial as it would be used again in the mission with JAXA.

    DEHRADUN: After missions to the moon and Mars, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has now set its eyes on Venus and also plans to explore the dark side of the moon in collaboration with Japan.

    Making a presentation on ISRO’s future missions at the Akash Tattva conference here, Anil Bhardwaj, Director of the Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory, said the space agency also planned to send a probe to Mars.

    Bhardwaj said it was in talks with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for sending a lunar rover to explore the permanent shadow region of the moon.

    As per the initial plans, a lunar lander and rover built by ISRO will be put into orbit by a Japanese rocket with a planned landing near the south pole of the moon.

    “The rover will then travel to the permanent shadow region of the moon which never sees sunlight,” Bhardwaj said.

    He said the exploration of the region was interesting as anything that has remained in the PSR zone was akin to staying in deep freeze for times immemorial.

    Bhardwaj said the Aditya L-1 would a unique mission in which a 400-kg class satellite carrying the payload would be placed in an orbit around the Sun in such a way that it can continuously view the star from a point called the Lagrange Point L-1.

    The orbit would be located 1.5 million kilometres away from the Earth and it would try to understand the coronal heating, solar wind acceleration and the initiation of coronal mass ejection, flares and near-earth space weather.

    Bhardwaj said the Aditya L-1 and the Chandrayaan-3 missions would be taken up on priority as early as next year and were likely to be followed by the mission to Venus and the mission to the moon with JAXA.

    The success of the lunar rover on board Chandrayaan-3 was crucial as it would be used again in the mission with JAXA.

  • ISRO successfully tests large human-rated solid rocket booster for Gaganyaan mission

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation on Monday successfully completed the static test of a human-rated solid rocket booster (HS200) for the Gaganyaan programme at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

    The HS200 is the human-rated version of the S200 rocket booster of satellite launch vehicle GSLV Mk III, popularly known as LVM3, the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency noted in a statement.

    “The successful completion of this test marks a major milestone for the prestigious human space flight mission of ISRO, the Gaganyaan, as the first stage of the launch vehicle is tested for its performance for the full duration,” it said.

    The event was witnessed by ISRO Chairman and Secretary in the Department of Space, S Somanath, and Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) S Unnikrishnan Nair along with other ISRO scientists.

    The design and development of the HS200 booster were completed at VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram and propellant casting was completed at SDSC, Sriharikota.

    The S200 motor, which is the first stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle intended for launching a 4,000 kg class satellite to the geosynchronous transfer orbit, was configured as a strap-on rocket booster.

    Based on the successful launch pedigree of this launch vehicle including the Chandrayaan mission, the LVM3 has been identified as the launcher for the Gaganyaan mission.

    For the manned space mission, LVM3 launch vehicle underwent improvements stipulated by the requirements of human rating, it was stated.

    Accordingly, a host of design improvements aimed at increasing the safety and reliability of various systems were implemented in the S200 booster like all other systems.

    These include additional safety features for motor case joints, robust insulation and ignition systems.

    The control system used in this booster employs one of the world’s most powerful electro-mechanical actuators with multiple redundancies and safety features, ISRO said.

    The system is indigenously designed and developed by ISRO in participation with various industries spread across the country.

    “Despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, ISRO could complete the entire design, development, realisation and testing process within a short span of two years,” the statement said.

    The HS200 booster loaded with 203 tonnes of solid propellant was tested for a duration of 135 seconds.

    The 20-metre long and 3.2 m diameter booster is the world’s second-largest operational booster with solid propellant, it said.

    During the test, about 700 parameters were monitored and the performance of all the systems was normal, the space agency further said.

    “With the successful completion of this test, ISRO marches one more step closer to Gaganyaan Programme,” it said.

    Out of the three propulsion stages of LVM3, the human-rated versions of the second-stage known as L110-G loaded with liquid propellant and the third stage C25-G with cryogenic propellant are in the final phase of qualification, including tests with static firing.

    “Gaganyaan programme, the most prestigious scientific endeavour of India, is steadily progressing towards its final goal of taking an Indian to space and bringing him safely back,” ISRO added.

  • Students set record for assembling rocket models

    Express News Service

    PANAJI: The launch of Gaganyaan, India’s manned space mission, has been postponed to 2023 due to Covid-19. Nonetheless, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is trying to keep the buzz going and motivate young minds by sponsoring 500 students to create a Guinness World Record for assembling Gaganyaan’s functional rocket model at one place. 

    All these rockets assembled by 500 students following a two-hour exercise at the India International Science Festival (IISF) under the guidance of N Sudheer Kumar (Director, Capacity Building Programme Office, ISRO) were launched at Panaji Gymkhana ground. It was done under the super-vision of experts from the country’s premier space agency. Around 496 students were part of record-making lot.

    “Size of the rocket is 300-350 mm and it will have cartridge of solid propellant. It rocket will weigh around 250-300 gm and can go to a height of 250 metres,” said Kumar.

    He said it was an attempt to make a working model of GSLV Mark III for human rated launch vehicle (HRLV) for Gaganyaan. Training the students is Diyanshu Poddar’s start-up, Rocketeers. “We are not just attempting rocket assembly records but functional Gaganyaan model rockets which were launched at Panaji Gymkhana. Students from Class XI have been trained by 60 volunteers to assemble the rockets,” said Poddar, who has launched over 1.5 lakh rockets.

    He graduated from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram (IIST), in 2012 and worked with the Chandrayaan 2 team as part of the Spacecraft Mechanism Group of ISRO.

    The idea was to train students in understanding rocket science and generate interest by building and launching their models. These rockets, being small, don’t go very high but involves skills to understand technology. 

  • ISRO conducts hot test of Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: ISRO said it successfully conducted the first hot test of the System Demonstration Model (SDM) of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System for a duration of 450 seconds at the test facility of Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday.

    The system performance met the test objectives and there was a close match with the pre-test predictions, the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency said in a statement.

    Further, a series of hot tests are planned to simulate various mission conditions as well as off-nominal conditions, it said.

    The Service Module (SM) is part of the Gaganyaan Orbital module and is located below the crew module and remains connected to it until re-entry, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) explained.

    The SM Propulsion System consists of a unified bipropellant system consisting of five numbers of 440 N thrust engines and 16 numbers of 100 N Reaction Control system (RCS) thrusters with MON-3 and MMH as Oxidizer and Fuel respectively.

    “The SDM, consisting of five numbers of 440 N engines and eight numbers of 100 N thrusters, was realised to qualify the propulsion system performance in ground. A new test facility is established at IPRC, Mahendragiri for testing the SDM (sic)”, the statement added.

  • ISRO seeks proposals for analysis, utilisation of Chandrayaan-2 orbiter data

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation has come out with an ‘Announcement of Opportunity” (AO), seeking proposals towards scientific analysis and utilisation of data from all experiments of the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.

    According to ISRO, the data from Chandrayaan-1 had been extensively used by Indian researchers to understand lunar morphology, surface age determination and composition of the lunar surface, studies on the possible presence of magmatic as well as exogenic water.

    “These studies have provided enhanced thoughtful views regarding lunar evolutionary processes”, the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency said.

    “Such studies from Chandrayaan-1 have considerably expanded Indian lunar science community”.

    To further strengthen the Indian research community for lunar science studies, Chandrayaan-2 orbiter payloads data are made available to public and scientific proposals are solicited for scientific analysis, it said.

    Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is currently in a 100 km x 100 km circular polar orbit around the Moon, and carries eight experiments for studies ranging from surface geology and composition to exospheric measurements that would continue to build upon the understanding from previous lunar missions.

    On December 24, 2020, Chandrayaan-2 orbiter payloads data were released to public for scientific analysis.

    Subsequently in July, 2021 next sets of data were released from payloads.

    A few science results by payload science teams are already published in international peer reviewed journals.

    The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter payloads are generating high quality data, which are made available in public domain (https://pradan.issdc.gov.in) for scientific analysis.

    More data sets will be added to this as acquired by various payloads, the space agency said.

    “To enhance the science outcome from the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter payloads, ISRO seeks scientific proposals from the national scientific community through this AO, towards scientific analysis and utilisation of data from all experiments of Chandrayaan-2 orbiter”, ISRO said.

    The AO is open to all researchers from recognised academic institutions, universities, colleges, planetaria and government organisations of India, it was stated.

  • Setback for ISRO as GSLV fails to place earth observation satellite into orbit due to performance anomaly

    By PTI

    SRIHARIKOTA: ISRO’s GSLV rocket on Thursday failed to inject into the orbit, the country’s latest earth observation satellite EOS-03 due to a failure to ignite the cryogenic stage of the launch vehicle, prompting the premier space agency to declare the mission could not be achieved as intended.

    However, the first and second stages of the rocket had performed normally, the Bengaluru-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation said.

    In a notification, ISRO said, “GSLV-F10 launch took place today at 0543 hrs as scheduled. Performance of first and second stages was normal. However, Cryogenic Upper Stage ignition did not happen due to technical anomaly. The mission could not be accomplished as intended.”

    According to ISRO, the cryogenic upper stage ignition was scheduled to take place 4.56 minutes after the lift-off.

    A formal announcement was also made at the Mission Control Centre by the range operations director, stating, “performance anomaly observed in the cryogenic stage. The mission could not be accomplished fully.”

    ISRO Chairman K Sivan said, “(the mission) could not be fully accomplished mainly because there is a technical anomaly observed in the cryogenic stage. This I wanted to tell all my friends.”

    ISRO, after facing hurdles caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, resumed its launch operations for the rocket to place the satellite with an objective to provide near real-time imaging of large areas of the country at frequent intervals and quick monitoring of natural disasters.

    As the 26-hour countdown concluded on Thursday, the 51.70 metre tall rocket with four stages lifted off majestically at 05.43hrs, leaving behind a trail of thick orange coloured fumes.

    The four-stage rocket was the first to carry a four-metre dia ‘Ogive Payload Fairing’ at the top of the vehicle to accommodate larger payloads.

    The rocket was supposed to place the EOS “an agile state-of-the-art satellite into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, 19 minutes after lift-off.

    Thursday’s unsuccessful attempt to launch the satellite came in the wake of scientists postponing the earlier planned missions earlier.

    The satellite, originally titled GISAT-1 weighing 2,268 kg was slated to be launched on March 5, 2020 but it was postponed a day before the lift-off due to ‘technical reasons’.

    The Covid-induced lockdown further delayed the mission and once again it was scheduled for a March 28, 2021 launch but a ‘minor issue’ with the satellite forced yet another postponement.

    The objective of Thursday’s mission was to provide near real-time imaging of large area regions at frequent intervals, for quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events and obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, water bodies as well as for disaster warning, cyclone monitoring, cloud burst and thunderstorm monitoring.

    Before Thursday’s launch, ISRO had launched Brazil’s earth observation satellite Amazonia-1 and 18 co-passenger satellites in February this year.

    Thursday’s mission is the eighth flight with indigenous cryogenic engine, 14th flight of the GSLV and also marks the 79th launch vehicle mission from Sriharikota.

    Previous launches of GSLV rockets include the GSLV-MkIII-M1/ Chandrayaan-2 mission in July 2019 while GSLV-F11 successfully placed GSAT-7A in December 2018.

    An earth observation satellite — EOS-01 — was launched in November 2020 by polar satellite launch vehicle PSLV-C49, ISRO said.

    ISRO had made arrangements to watch the launch through its various social media platforms.

  • Setback for ISRO as GSLV-F10/EOS-03 mission fails due to performance anomaly in cryogenic stage

    By PTI

    SRIHARIKOTA: Indian Space Research Organisation’s second mission of the year to place an earth observation satellite by a GSLV rocket faced a setback as the mission could not be accomplished fully due to performance anomaly in the cryogenic stage of the rocket, the space agency said on Thursday.

    The 51.70-metre tall rocket GSLV-F10/EOS-03 successfully lifted off from the second launch pad at the spaceport as planned at 05.43 hrs soon after the 26-hour countdown concluded.

    Ahead of the lift-off, the Launch Authorisation Board cleared the decks for a normal lift-off as planned.

    The performance of the rocket in the first and second stages of the rocket was normal, scientists at the Mission Control Centre said.

    However, minutes later the scientists were seen in discussion and it was announced in the Mission Control Centre by the Range Operations Director “mission could not be accomplished fully due to performance anomaly”.

    “Performance anomaly observed in the cryogenic stage. The mission could not be accomplished fully,” the range operations director announced in the Mission Control Centre. Later, ISRO Chairman K Sivan said, “(The mission) could not be fully accomplished mainly because there is a technical anomaly observed in the cryogenic stage. This I wanted to tell to all my friends.”

    After the countdown commenced, scientists were engaged in the filling of propellants for the four-stage rocket at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota about 100 kms from Chennai.

    The objective of Thursday’s mission was to provide near real-time imaging of large area regions at frequent intervals, for quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events and obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, water bodies as well as for disaster warning, cyclone monitoring, cloud burst and thunderstorm monitoring.

    Before today’s launch, ISRO had launched Brazil’s earth observation satellite Amazonia-1 and 18 co-passenger satellites in February this year.

    Thursday’s rocket launch was also planned to be held in April or May however, the outbreak pushed the scientists to resume it in August.

  • ISRO holds hot test of liquid propellant Vikas engine for ‘Gaganyaan’

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday successfully conducted the third long-duration hot test of the liquid propellant Vikas engine for the Gaganyaan programme, the country’s first manned mission to space.

    The test was done for the core L110 liquid stage of the human rated GSLV MkIII vehicle, as part of the engine qualification requirements for the Gaganyaan programme, the space agency said in a statement.

    The engine was fired for 240 seconds at the test facility of ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, said the statement.

    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, it said.

    The objective of the Gaganyaan programme is to demonstrate the capability to send humans to low earth orbit onboard an Indian launch vehicle and bring them back to earth.

    Union Minister of State (Independent charge) of Space, Jitendra Singh said in February this year that the first unmanned mission is planned in December 2021 and the second unmanned one in 2022-23 followed by the human spaceflight demonstration.

    Four Indian astronaut-candidates have already undergone generic space flight training in Russia as part of the Gaganyaan programme.

    ISRO’s heavy-lift launcher GSLV Mk III has been identified for the mission.

    Formal announcement of the Gaganyaan programme was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2018.

    The initial target was to launch the human spaceflight before the 75th anniversary of India’s independence on August 15, 2022.

    ISRO is also taking the help of French, Russian and US space agencies in some of the crucial activities and supply of components, sources said.

  • ISRO to launch data relay satellites to track Gaganyaan

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch a data relay satellite that will help maintain contact with the Gagangyaan mission throughout after the launch, sources said.

    The satellite will be launched before the final leg of the Gaganyaan mission, which will send astronauts to the Lower Earth Orbit (LEO).

    The first leg — the unmanned mission — is to be launched in December.

    “We’re planning to launch our own satellite, which will act as a data relay satellite before going for the first human space flight,” the sources said.

    The Rs 800-crore project has been approved and work has been going on, they added.

    Satellites in orbit cannot pass along their information to the ground stations on Earth if the satellite does not have a clear view of the ground station.

    A data relay satellite serves as a way to pass along the satellite’s information.

    The NASA, with a robust human space mission programme, also has its own data relay satellite.

    Its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite allows it to have global coverage of all the satellites round the clock without having to build extra ground stations on Earth.

    The ISRO uses several ground stations spread across the globe — Mauritius, Brunei and Biak, Indonesia.

    Last month, ISRO Chairperson K Sivan had said the space agency was also in talks with the Australian counterpart to have a ground station at the Coco islands for the Gaganyaan mission.

    However, there are blind spots, due to which there is a possibility of not receiving signals, sources added.

    The data relay satellite will help address the issues.

    Earlier this month, the ISRO signed an agreement with French space agency CNES for cooperation for the Gaganyaan, a move that will enable training of Indian flight physicians in French space agency’s facilities.

    Under this agreement, CNES-developed French equipment, tested and still operating aboard the International Space Station, will be made available to Indian crews.

    The CNES will also be supplying fireproof carry bags made in France to shield equipment from shocks and radiation, it said.

    Last month, four prospective astronauts also returned to India after spending nearly a year in Russia.