Article

2006-07-04 India-Pakistan

India to build satellite navigation system

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Posted by john 2006-07-04 16:35|| || Front Page|| [9 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Low-cost space odyssey - unmanned shuttles

Space scientists are metamorphosing the vintage satellite launch vehicle (SLV) rocket into a shuttle that may pave the way for a future Indian manned space mission. But at the moment, the scientists are more focused on bringing down the cost of a satellite launch to $2,500 per kg from the existing $25,000 per kg.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) expects the first technology demonstrator of the modified SLV rocket to fly by 2009, but a bigger reusable launch vehicle, which can place heavier satellites regularly, is nearly a decade away.

The Indian shuttle will perch on top of the SLV rocket. Once it crosses the earths atmosphere, it will cruise in space, hurl satellites and return back to earth.

President APJ Abdul Kalam, as then project director of SLV, had led Indias first successful rocket mission that put in orbit a mini-satellite weighing 35 kg in 1980. We are making modifications to the SLV to use it for a reusable launch vehicle (RLV), said M Annamalai, director, ISROS Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC).

ISRO will also embark upon building larger space shuttles that can be put in space by its other rockets such as ASLV and PSLV. The technology for re-entry into earths atmosphere, guidance and landing would be tested when the 600-kg cone-shaped capsule of the space capsule recovery experiment (SRE) will be launched and brought back later this year.

While the space shuttle journey has just begun, ISRO is perfecting its own cryogenic engine, which uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, for the third stage of the indigenous geo-synchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV), to be fired next year.

Three GSLV rockets that have placed communication satellites 36,000 km in space and the one that is due to carry a two-tonne satellite by July 15 have the imported Russian cryogenic engine.

ISRO is investing Rs2,500 crore to build a 629-tonne rocket, GSLV-Mk-III, by 2008, with the ability to launch heavy four-tonne satellites and a 10-tonne manned space capsule in lower earth orbit. These new technologies will make space transportation much cheaper, Annamalai said.

Posted by john 2006-07-04 16:51|| 2006-07-04 16:51|| Front Page Top

#2 Paki puckering in 5...4...3...

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-07-04 17:00|| 2006-07-04 17:00|| Front Page Top

#3 Paks have no significant space program. Their North Korean imports are barely capable of carring a warhead. Putting something into orbit or even long range delivery is beyond them.

India actually has large civilian satellite launch vehicles, a separate program from its missile development.

Posted by john 2006-07-04 17:36|| 2006-07-04 17:36|| Front Page Top

#4 The footprint of this system will include all of Pakistan and parts of China, radiaclly increasing the accuracy of India's cruise and Ballistic missiles.

India is also helping reactivate the Russian GLONASS network, launching a few satellites on its own boosters.
This will give them military access to the GLONASS system for prcesion guided munition delivery.

India has also signed up as a paying partner for the European Galileo system, using this, their own network and the US GPS for civilian use.

Posted by john 2006-07-04 17:41|| 2006-07-04 17:41|| Front Page Top

#5 GSLV ready for lift-off on July 10: It will place INSAT-4C in orbit

Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) will lift off from the newly built second launch pad at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on July 10 to place INSAT-4C in orbit. The launch time is set between 4.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on that day. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has codenamed the vehicle GSLV-F-02. The "F" stands for flight.

With the three-stage GSLV-F-02 fully integrated and the satellite mated with the vehicle, the launch campaign is peaking for the ignition on July 10. The vehicle is already on the launch pad.

Filling of the vehicle with fuel will begin T minus 24 hours, that is, 24 hours before the lift-off. The Launch Authorisation Board is scheduled to meet on July 6 to clear the launch.

INSAT-4C is a satellite for boosting communication in the country. It will give a fillip to direct-to-home (DTH) telecasting, telephone communication, and business communication using very small aperture terminals. The ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, has built INSAT-4C, which weighs 2,170 kg.

The GSLV-F-02 is made of three stages. It weighs 414 tonnes and is 49 metres tall. The core first stage is powered by solid propellants. Strapped around the first stage are four motors, fuelled by liquid propellants. These strap-on motors boost the vehicle's thrust during lift-off. The second stage works on liquid fuel.

The topmost third stage is powered by cryogenic propellants, that is, liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. Russia has supplied the cryogenic engine that powers the third stage.

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, has built the GSLV-F-02. This is the fourth flight of the GSLV. The three previous GSLV flights took place in 2001, 2003 and 2004, and they placed in orbit GSAT-1, GSAT-2 and EDUSAT respectively.

The Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, has two launch pads.

Posted by john 2006-07-04 21:07|| 2006-07-04 21:07|| Front Page Top

#6 India has an ICBM. Who knew? Thanks, John.

Posted by 11A5S 2006-07-04 21:49|| 2006-07-04 21:49|| Front Page Top

#7 At 400 tons, the GSLV is overkill (and impractical) for an ICBM.

The core solid rocket stage of the PSLV however is one of the largest solid rocket motors in the world and would provide a basis for any Indian ICBM if they decided to develop one.

Posted by john 2006-07-04 21:54|| 2006-07-04 21:54|| Front Page Top

#8 Looks like the Indian cryogenic stage (LOX + LH2) is almost ready...

Preparations are on for the testing of an indigenous cryogenic stage by mid-August at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at Mahendragiri, in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, said R.V. Perumal, Director, LPSC.

The GSLV-Mk III will be a more powerful version of the present GSLV. The first test on an indigenous cryogenic engine was conducted on February 16, 2000 on the foothills of Mahendragiri at the LPSC. Since then, several tests have been done, including a full-duration one for 1,000 seconds.

Indigenous cryogenic engines have a thrust of 7.5 tonnes. They use 12.6 tonnes of propellants. Launch vehicles need cryogenic engines to put heavier satellites, weighing more than two tonnes, into geo-synchronous transfer orbit at a height of 36,000 km above the earth.

Posted by john 2006-07-04 22:04|| 2006-07-04 22:04|| Front Page Top

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