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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the fifth satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) on January 20.
This was disclosed by ISRO Satellite Centre Director M. Annadurai on the sidelines of a plenary session at the Indian Science Congress at the University of Mysuru, on Monday.
IRNSS is a 7-satellite constellation to provide an indigenous terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, vehicle tracking and fleet management, disaster management, precise timing, mapping, visual and voice navigation for drivers etc, with a service area spread over 1,500 km.
Space Park near Whitefield
Mr. Annadurai said a space park is coming up on a 100-acre plot near Whitefield in Bengaluru for the manufacture of space-related components. It is necessary to ensure speedy delivery of various components to ISRO which has a tight schedule.
He said ISRO will encourage private participation in manufacture of satellites under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. “A few private organisations are already involved in the space programmes and we are monitoring their quality and progress,” said Mr. Annadurai.
Quelle: The Hindui
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India to build its heaviest rocket to carry 10-tonne satellites
Space agency's GSLV-MkII currently can lift a two-tonne satellite into space
Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) plans to build its heaviest rocket, which can carry satellites weighing 10 tonnes into space. Currently, the space agency’s geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV MK-2) can carry satellites weighing only two tonnes.
The proposed rocket would be powered by a semi-cryogenic engine — that runs on kerosene and liquid oxygen, which the space agency is currently developing. Semi-cryogenic engines are environment-friendly and bring down the cost of launches significantly. The design process for the semi-cryogenic engine has been completed and it is being built by Godrej Aerospace, which also makes the Vikas engines for Isro’s rockets.
“Once we have this engine, we will have different levels of launch vehicles possible. Currently, the GSLV MK-3 uses the CE20 engine and once we put the semi cryogenic engine in such a combination, we will have a much bigger rating, which will have a payload capability of 10 tonnes,” said S Somanath, project director of the GSLV MK-3 at Isro. He, however, did not set a time-frame for the rocket development.
Last year, Isro tested a demonstrator of its heavier class of rocket, the GSLV MK-3, designed to carry four-tonne class communication satellites into space. The CE20, which the rocket uses, is an indigenously developed cryogenic engine. A full-fledged rocket with a communication satellite will be launched in 2017.
“One of the launch vehicles will look like the GSLV MK-3, but it will be much taller, almost 65 metres, weighing 732.6 tonnes at lift-off and it is capable of putting a 10-tonne space plant in the communication orbit,” said Somanath. Isro currently sends its four-tonne communication satellites, used for satellite broadcasting, on Arianespace rockets of the European Space Agency.
Somanath said Isro would work on a modular vehicle approach, using the same platform to extend the power of its rockets than build separate rockets.
“We thought we will go in a modular way. It will be possible for nearly 6-tonne payload capability and, if required, we will be able to change to our full 10-tonne launch vehicle with a little bit of addition,” he said.
Meanwhile, Isro will launch its fifth of the seventh regional navigation satellite on January 20. The satellite will be part of India’s constellation of geo-positioning satellites that would help in disaster management, mapping and navigation, said M Annadurai, director, Isro.
PROPELLING INTO THE FUTURE
The proposed rocket would be powered by a semi-cryogenic engine - that runs on kerosene and liquid oxygen, which the space agency is currently developing.
Semi-cryogenic engines are environment-friendly and bring down the cost of launches significantly.
The design process for the semi-cryogenic engine has been completed and it is being built by Godrej Aerospace, which also makes the Vikas engines for Isro’s rockets.
Last year, Isro tested a demonstrator of its heavier class of rocket, the GSLV MK-3, designed to carry four-tonne class communication satellites into space
Quelle: Business Standard
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ISRO Plans 100-acre Space Park in Mysuru
MYSURU: As part of Make in India initiative, Indian Space Research Oraganisation (ISRO) has decided to set up a 100-acre Space Park in Bengaluru where private industries would be allowed to take up manufacturing of space system related components.
The park is expected to cater to increasing demand for components and other parts for satellites as India aims to launch more satellites for various observational services in future. India plans to launch 12 satellites in 2016 for remote sensing and navigation.
“The Space Park is coming up near Whitefield for the private industry. It is over 100 acres. It is likely to be inaugurated this month,” said ISRO satellite centre director M Annadurai at the Indian Science Congress.
Also in the pipeline is allowing private players to make satellites and providing them facility at Sriharikota for launch.
“The space industry has to invest and build modular capacity to enable the country to launch as many satellites to meet the growing demand of the user industry including the government private organizations and overseas users,” he said.
Annadurai said the park will also contribute to the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative as the private industry and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) have been helping in making rockets and satellites over the years. Annadurai also talked about progress so far in the second lunar mission Chandrayaan 2 and solar mission Aditya.
“India will be the first country to have a high altitude polar landing of Chandrayaan 2 and it will have three components — orbiter, Lander and rover -— to study the lunar surface. The mission is scheduled to be launched 2017-18,” he said.
Chandrayaan 2 has a capability to soft land at a specified lunar site and carry in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface and will have Orbiter Craft and Lander craft.
Quelle: The Indian Express
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'All IRNSS satellites to be in orbit by March', ISRO official
All the seven satellites of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) are expected to be in the orbit by March 2016, a top Indian Space Research Organisation official today.
IRNSS-1E is slated for launch on January 20 from the space port of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
"...From the regional navigation point of view, earlier we had launched four satellites. Another satellite IRNSS-1E is on the launch pad. It is slated for launch on January 20," ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) Director M Annadurai said.
He said (IRNSS) 1F and 1G satellites were also in the very advanced stages of integration at the Bangalore satellite centre.
"..By March 31st we want to have all the seven satellites constellation in place," he said.
The constellation of seven satellites was planned by ISRO to constitute IRNSS, which would be at par with US-based GPS once the full complement of spacecrafts are launched.
While four satellites would be sufficient to start operations of the IRNSS system, the remaining three would make it more accurate and efficient.
Annadurai was speaking at a session on 'Space science technology and applications' at the ongoing 103rd Indian Science Congress on the second day here.
He also said ISRO was setting up a space park in 100 acres at Bengaluru to facilitate private players with the infrastructure to take part in space-related projects.
The park is expected to be inaugurated "soon" near Whitefield in Bengaluru, he said, adding the infrastructure will be provided by ISRO itself in the land owned by it.
On the scientific discovery that the Mars Orbiter satellite has been able to make so far, Distinguished Scientist and former Director of ISAC S K Shivakumar said, "If you ask me about methane gas detection, we are yet to find exact sources and all that.."
He said, "..I really don't have the update how much of science have we been able to find out..."
Shivakumar, who was speaking on Mars Mission at a session, said the satellite was fine and functioning "as usual".
"As of yesterday evening or today morning, it is doing well, going round the Mars as usual and it is taking different set of pictures whatever is required," he said.
Different payloads for different experiments were all working, he said, adding "we are quite happy that all these things are going quite well."
Reiterating that the Mars Orbiter Mission may last 'many years', Shivakumar said, "we still have 37 kilo grams of fuel."
Scripting space history, India on September 24, 2014 successfully placed the low-cost Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) spacecraft in orbit around the Mars in its very first attempt, breaking into an elite club.
ISRO had launched the spacecraft on its nine-month-long odyssey on a homegrown PSLV rocket from Sriharikota on 5 November 2013.
Quelle: Business Standard
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