TECSAR ..... Unvisible Eye in Sky

Amidst much secrecy, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) agency has successfully launched the Israeli satellite TECSAR.The 350 kg satellite also referred to sometimes as Polaris is being launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh using the Indian workhorse rocket the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Considering the extreme geopolitical sensitivity of the launch, ISRO has made no formal announcement for this mission. This satellite is considered to be spy satellite of Israel.

TECSAR can take high resolution pictures even in clouded and foggy weather. It is most advanced satellite ever made by Israel. There are also rumours of India having entered into data sharing arrangement for the satellite launched from Indian shores.

India's Indigenous Missile Defence....

Dear Readers,

Starting from today, I am introducing a new series of posts related to India's Defence. All these posts will have the tag of defence updates..... I will also continue giving analysis & recommendations on India's posture in defence & International Politics. Those articles require quite a deal of time to be dwelt upon. nevertheless, efforts will be made to post articles more frequently.....

India's Indigenous Missile Defence....

On December 6th, 2007, India tested indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile. This very first test itself was a success. This will give boost to India's defence capabilities keeping in mind the latest political developments in neighbouring Pakistan and recent missile tests by it...

India's Cryotech!!! Really India's!!???

(For full resolution photo click here)

Almost everybody has been lauding about India's successful testing of "Indigenous" cryogenic engine for full flight duration of 720 seconds on November 15, 2007 for upper stage of India's GSLV. Ground test for 480 seconds was conducted in August 2007.

ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair while delivering the thirty-second foundation day lecture on `Space Technology Development - Management Perspective' at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore said that "we have completed the qualification of indigenous cryogenic engine. It is as good as Russian one."

Now, does that mean it is almost as good as the one we got it from Russia or we have made a engine comparable to Russian one is anybody's good guess. Vijainder K thakur claims that the Indian cryogenic engine is none other than Russian oxygen/hydrogen liquid-propellant rocket engine KVD-1. It is the only one of its kind in the world. The reasoning & the references given by V K thakur are found to be quite credible. (he has also listed references at the end of the article) The article mentions that India had entered into $120 million contract for supply of 2 KVD-1 cryogenic engines & complete transfer of technology with the Glavkosmos. In 1993 US forced Russia to cancel that contract citing violation of MTCR(Misssile Technology Control Regime). Glavkosmos renegotiated the contract to exclude transfer of technology and the sanctions were lifted by US. later ISRO exuded confidence of bulding own engines but faltered in its development. The development is in process since 1986. In december 2001 we renegotiated the contract & further development of launch was collaborated, that also meant that Russia will also help in development of current technoogy.

There are some other aspects which tells us that the engine is definitely indigenous but not exactly true to its term. The Engine developed may be indigenously but the tech has not been sold to us by the Russians rather stolen by us from Russian Cryogenic engines supplied to us for our own GSLV launchings.

You would recall that India entered into contract with Russia for supply 5 cryogenic engines for launches og GSLV in December 2001. Except for the failure of the launch of GSLV F02 in July 2006, all the other launches were fairly successful. The official reason for failure of F02 launch was said to be faulty regulator in one of the Four strap on boosters to the launch vehicle. My wild guess was that the ISRO is not so naive to make a mistake in strap on booster. Rather the failure was because of the Faulty Cryogenic engine fitted in the launch vehicle. The original engine was used by India to copy the tech involved in it. Nowhere did anybody discuss about what happened to the cryo part of launch vehicle. By placing the blame on the strap-on booster, gaze of all was shifted away from cryo part. The realty must be that cryo engine was used by Indian scientists to develop our so called very own engine.

Vijainder Thakur is correct in assessing that ISRO has not told the complete truth. India has really been facing lt of hassles in developing critical technologies. rather they be for MBT Arjun, missiles under IGMDP (Integrated Missile Development Programme), Ummaned Arial Vehicles or Bullet Proof vests for Armed forces. All have seen major failures. None of the above said programmes have had successes to the considerable levels.

The real test of Cryogenic engine does lie in testing but successful launching of GSLV having indigenous engine.

Update on Brahmos

The first likely customer of Indian Russian joint venture production, Brahmos Missile seems to be Malaysia. The missile is being touted as "Universal Supersonic Cruise" Missile.

Brahmos Aerospace Private Ltd's chief executive officer Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai said India would only sell the sophisticated missiles to countries that are friendly and those considered as strategic partners in India's security equation.

This missile is said to be three times faster than American Tomahawk cruise missile.

It is expected that 1000 such missiles would be sold in the first phase.....

ISRO & INDIA Should Stop Self Patronising

ISRO has launched INSAT 4CR successfully using GSLV. And lo behold everybody is congratulating other for such an feat. Yes, the flawless launch has added an one more feather to the ISRO's cap. GSLV has been declared completely operational and many more flights of it have been planned. ISRO has also tested new avionics and will be using those next year in PSLV launches. It has reduced the weight of launchers by using this improved avionics.

Yes, this all is true but what is also true is the cryogenic stage carried by GSLV F04 is of Russian origin. We still do not know the exact date when our launchers will be having indigenous cryo engine. The engine was last tested for duration of 8 minutes. It still needs lots of test to be used for actual flight.

The above picture taken from website Bharat-Rakshak shows the GSLV family. It is quite impressive one but the fact remians unless & until we do not have our own cryo engine, future will be suspect. If we really need to compete in the commercial space, we need to stop patronizing ourselves on every launch and direct our resources and eneries on developing more indigeneous content and reducing costs and foreign dependence.

India now need to take up basic research and develop newer and cost effective technologies to compete in international markets.

ISRO....coming of Age

The next satellite to be launched by ISRO would be an Israeli satellite in the month of August. This is the same satellite which Israelis had contracted with ISRO around two years back. It is an spy satellite.

The reliance of highly efficient Israeli forces in Indian launch Vehicle vindicates the technological superiority of PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle). This commercial launch will increase the credibility of Indian Launch Vehicles in the international satellite launch market. This will lead to more demand for launch facilities from India.

India is also on the verge of completion of erection of second launch pad at Sriharikota. This will increase the availability of launch facilities in India.

India also needs to involve Private sector in the manufacture of launch vehicles and satellites. Some days back, ISRO Chairman, Mr. Madhavan Nair had said that though the Indian satellite and launch industry has grown three fold, ISRO has not increased the workforce substantially, this proves that the private sector participation has increased and still more is envisaged and expected.

This could come as a boon to the India as the spillover effect of the new technologies by private sector in the commercial arena could spur local industry as a whole.

We now need wait & watch, what kind of & to what extent Private Public partnership will Isro involve.

AGNI III & SUPERPOWER STATUS

After successful testing Agni III, it is tipped that India has the capability to produce true ICBM (Inter-Continental Ballistic missile) with the range of 5,500 km & more.

Alongwith that concerns are also being raised whether the India will continue its development of long range missiles in the face of Nuclear Pact with US in 2005. Former DRDO chief K. Santhanam says, India in its wildest dreams does not plan to be global superpower, but where regional superiority is concerned, they definitely would like to have effective deterrent against its backdrop of war history.

Is our former chief justified in saying that we do not aspire to be best or greatest in the world? are we really so afraid of other powers like US that we would do whatever pleases them and nothing beyond that? former chief's commenst reflect the thinking of the government when he was working for DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation). This necessarily does not mean our aspirations have not soared.

We need to give a serious thought to our status in global context....

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services

Commercial Orbital Transportation popularly referred to as "COTS" could be an exciting prospect for Indian space Industry.

NASA's single space shuttle flight costs more than $500 million and apart from that the shuttle is going to retire after 2010. This has prompted NASA to look for alternative sources to launch cargo to the International Space Station.

In august 2006, NASA awarded COTS to two private entities viz SpaceX and Rocketplane Kistler. SpaceX has twice tried unsuccessfully to launch rocket in space and whereas Kistler is yet to test its launch vehicle.

COTS will be used to transport cargo to International Space Station(ISS). ISS is located approximately 360 km above earth usually called as Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Currently, the transport of cartgo to ISS is done using Russian rocket Soyuz, which can carry payload of 7.5 tonnes in LEO.

Indian launch vehicle PSLV can launch 1.5 tonne satellites in sun synchronous Orbit which has about 600-800 km altitude. while GSLV I can launch satellites weighing upto 5 tonnes in LEO. GSLV III is under process of development which is touted to have capability to launch 10 tonne satellites in LEO.

My Recommendations:

Space Launch industry is growing by leaps and bounds. considering the number of private sector companies like burt rutan's spaceshipone, Bigelow's inflatable orbital outposts and spaceX, the race is becoming more exciting with the fact that commercial viability is being achieved.

India on the lines of Brahmos, should have a joint venture with Russian space agency. The outline of the joint venture would be as follows:

• India will launch all the small & medium satellites of Russia at a zero profit basis.
• Russia will outsource all the small & medium launches to ISRO.
• India will use both of the launch pads(one at sriharikota & other which is under development) for Russian satellite launches at priority basis.
• Russia will concentrate its energies in developing advanced manned space vehicles.
• The joint venture entity will bid for COTS for NASA.
• In return Russia will provide docking tech to isro to incorporate in GSLV.
• GSLV will be used for COTS.
• India will provide for 75% of the funding requirments of the entity.

This entity will help to Russia and India both to tap the emerging space industry. Russia will also get funding for its cash strapped Space industry.

India will benefit technologically and reduce its time required to develop techs for manned space exploration.

One Launch, 4 Parts & One Step to Moon

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) today(January 10, 2007) successfully conducted launch of it tenth flight of their workhorse launch vehicle PSLV from SHAR, Shriharikota. This launch was unique from many aspects for Indian scientists and also an great leap in their faith in indigenous Space Technology.

The homegrown PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) successfully launched India' CARTOSAT - 2 and Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE) -1, Indonesia's LAPAN-TUBSAT and Argentina's PEHEUNSAT. Cartosat had payload of 680 kg, SRE-1 of 550 kg, LAPAN of 56 kg and PEHEUNSAT of 6 kg.

PSLV has made 10 consecutive(including this one) successful launches since 1994. PSLV was actually designed to launch one tonne payload satellites but its capability has been gradually scaled up. The current flight had total payload of about 1292 kg. Its first stage is one of the largest solid propellant boosters in the world. The fourth stage's propellant has been reduced from 2.5 tonnes to 2 tonnes. The first stage's weight has also reduced by 500 kg. This all has led to sugnificant improvement in its payload capacity.

Cartosat was injected into high polar SSO after 981.3 seconds, 45 seconds later 6 kg PEHEUNSAT was injected. 120 sec later SRE got separated and finally 190 seconds later TUBSAT mounted on fourth stage was separated.

For the first time DLA (Dual Launch Adapter) was used for launching the satellites.

Cartosat carries PAN (Panchromatic Camera) with the spatial resolution better than one metre and swath of 9.6 km. The satellite can be steered upto 45 degrees along as well as across the track. The data from it can be used in LIS (Land Information Systems) and GIS (Geographical Information Systems).

SRE is intended to demonstrate the technology of an orbiting platform for performing experiments in microgravity conditions. After completion of experiments, the capsule will be de-orbited and recovered after splashing it into bay of bengal. The results of this experiment will useful for further manned missions to space and use of Resusable rockets for launching satellites, which will immensely reduce the cost of launching. More information is available of ISRO website.

This launch of today has vindicated the technological prowess of India and also proved that inspite of sanctions by developed nations, India can pursue its space ambitions on it own mettle.

This will also re-establish ISRO and its commercial arm Antirx in commercial launch market and bring in valuable forex for the country.

Countdown to PSLV C7

On Janurary 10 morning, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) will be launching PSLV C7 from sriharikota launch range, which, if successful, will catapult India into the league of select nations who have the capability to launch reusable launch vehicle. it would be controlled through Satish Dhawan Space Centre located at Sriharikota.

PSLV launch will include Cartosat-2, used for mapping of earth & environment, two foreign satellites- Indonesia's Lupan & Argentina's Pehuensat. It will also carry experimental reusable launch vehicle. This experimental RLV is to demonstrate the RLV technology and further refine it. This RLV would orbit earth for about 10-15 days then would brought down. Initially, it would land using parachutes and splash into ocean, later the tech would be further refined to make it land like an aircraft.
Successful completion of this mission would mean India can now lower costs of launching satellites and also look forward to manned missions which require such critical technology. Further missions of ISRO include Chandrayaan, manned mission to space and also unmanned mission to Mars.

Indian Age of Spacetech

According to Sources, India is going to test a Reusable Launch Vehicle in the coming PSLV launch scheduled in the second week of January. The forthcoming launch of PSLV(Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is scheduled between 10-15 january 2007. It will be carrying three satellites, Cartosat II, a foreign made satellite on commercial basis and an experimental space recovery capsule.

All the major countries will be minutely tracking the Indian progress on this front. This technological demonstrator, if successful, will catapult India into the select states who are having this kind of capability. Unlike China, the reentry technology and related technologies are indigenously developed.

India already has a robust PSLV tech to launch satellites in the Polar Synchronous orbit. The PSLV has the capability to launch satellites weighing upto 1.5 ton. India is also in the advanced stages of developing a cryogenic engine for its GSLV, which would be test flown sometime next year. History is proof of the fact that India has always risen as a phoenix from the failure of launch vehicles. Development of all the launch vehicles have preceded by a failure in the respective category. It seems that the history seeks to repeat itself in the case of GSLV too. Though according to me as stated in earlier posts, failure for recent GSLV launch may not be same as stated by the authorities, its better to wait and watch the developments.