ISRO developing next generation Launch Vehicles for heavy satellites

Indian Space Research Organisation scientists are now developing next generation hi-tech Launch Vehicles or  Rockets for heavy satellites. This project will cut the cost of launching satellites by more than half the present.

This year, we will see series of tests and research works on GSLV Mark III. GSLV Mark III is said to completed by 2010-2011. The present GSLV can put only 2.2 tonnes of payloads into space. But, Mark III can put upto 4 tonnes of payloads into space. This will help Antrix Corporation (ISRO’s commercial wing) to offer the cheapest space launches in the world.

Mr. K Radhakrishnan, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, said that ISRO is going to test the solid booster, followed by liquid stage and cryogenic engine will be tested this year. He also said that they are planning to conduct a test flight by 2010 or 2011. Radhakrishnan said ISRO will be able to pack more transponders in one space flight. “This makes it a cost effective solution and will give us a niche in the world in launching four tonne satellites,” he said.

GSLV is also planning to apply Mark III for human space missions. But, as far as the mission in 2015 is concerned, normal GSLV will be used which will put 2 Indians into space. But, GSLV Mark III has the capacity to put 3 astronauts at the same mission.

ISRO scientists have developed Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Automobiles

India’s space scientists have developed hydrogen fuel cells to power an automobile bus by leveraging their know-how of the homegrown cryogenic technology for rockets.

The two-year effort has yielded positive results and the scientists are now readying for the fuel cells to be fitted into a bus.

“That’s not exactly the cryogenic technology… (It’s) liquid hydrogen handling and that’s where we have some expertise. So, we have finalised the design”, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, G Madhavan Nair said.

According to Honorary Adviser of ISRO V Gnana Gandhi leading the technical team in this project, ISRO and Tata Motors entered into an MoU in 2006 to design and develop an automobile bus using hydrogen as a fuel through fuel cell route.

Nair said: “Tatas are taking the responsibility for the locomotive part of it, and hydrogen handling system also.

First protomodel has been assembled. Results are good. May be next year, it should be on the road”.

Gandhi said: “We are planning to integrate the system in the first quarter of next year (January-March 2009), and vehicle integration in the second quarter”.

He said the hydrogen cells are a spin-off of the cryogenic technology that ISRO has been developing for the last few years.

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Pictures of Moon’s surface taken by MIP

The following two pictures has been released by ISRO, which was taken by the Moon Impact Probe.

Source: Indian Space Research Organisation

Source: Indian Space Research Organisation

The above images are light weight JPEG Images. If you want the orginal BMP images (large file size), use the below links:

Moon Impact Probe Picture 1

Moon Impact Probe Picture 2

India touches Moon, MIP hits Moon’s Surface

Today (14/08/2008), India become the fourth country to have it’s flag on Moon Surface. Chandrayaan-1′s Moon Impact Probe device was eject from Chandrayaan 1 Spacecraft, which has hitted the moon’s surface. MIP has Indian Tricolour painted on it’s sides.

The 35-kilo payload crash-landed on the lunar surface at around 2030 hrs IST. The MIP has started sending its first signals to the satellite.

It also contains equipment which will help scientists design a lunar lander or rover for the upcoming Chandrayaan-2 mission.

There’s a lot tucked away inside the MIP. There’s a device to constantly check its height as it falls, another to check what the air on the moon is made of and even a video camera to photograph the moon from close range.

The MIP disconnected from Chandrayaan at 100 km from the moon. As it fell, it kept sending information back to the satellite.

Closer to the surface, rockets were fired to slow down its speed and soften impact.

After 30 min of free fall, the MIP crash-landed on the south pole of moon. The first three countries were USA, Russia and Japan. By this, China has been overtaken by India in Moon Exploration.

Jai Hind!..

More about Chandrayaan 1′s Space Craft

A landmark day is nearing. Just two days to go for Chandrayaan 1. The space craft of Chandrayaan 1 is cuboid in shape. It’s side is 1.50 metres. It accommodates 11 scientific instruments. It weighs 1304 kilograms at it’s launch and 590 kilograms when it enters the lunar orbit. It is a 3-axis stabilized spacecraft using two star sensors, gyros and four reaction wheels. 

The power generation would be through a canted single-sided solar array to provide required power during all phases of the mission. This deployable solar array consisting of a single panel generates 700W of peak power. Solar array along with yoke would be stowed on the south deck of the spacecraft in the launch phase. During eclipse spacecraft will be powered by Lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries. 

After deployment the solar panel plane is canted by 30 to the spacecraft pitch axis. 

The spacecraft employs a X-band, 0.7m diameter parabolic antenna for payload data transmission. The antenna employs a dual gimbal mechanism to track the earth station when the spacecraft is in lunar orbit. 

The spacecraft uses a bipropellant integrated propulsion system to reach lunar orbit as well as orbit and attitude maintenance while orbiting the moon. 

The propulsion system carries required propellant for a mission life of 2 years, with adequate margin. The Telemetry, Tracking & Command (TTC) communication is in S-band frequency. The scientific payload data transmission is in X-band frequency. 

On board, the space craft consist of three Solid State Recorders to collect the data. The specific functions of individual SSR’s are:

1. SSR-1 will store science payload data and has capability of storing 32Gb data.
2. SSR-2 will store science payload data along with spacecraft attitude information (gyro and star sensor),  satellite house keeping and other auxiliary data. The storing capacity of SSR-2 is 8Gb.
3. M3 (Moon Mineralogy Mapper) payload has an independent SSR with 10Gb capacity.

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