ASTROSAT scheduled for launch on September 28 with six maritime surveillance satellites

[Hindustani78]

ASTROSAT set for Sep 28 launch

Bengaluru, Sep 16, 2015 (PTI)

ASTROSAT, satellite for the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial objects, is scheduled for launch on September 28, a senior Indian Space Research Organisation official today said.

"The satellite is scheduled for launch on board the launch vehicle PSLV C-30, on September 28 morning 10 am," Director, Public Relations, ISRO, Deviprasad Karnik told PTI.

He said "now the vehicle assembly is almost completed; along with ASTROSAT there will be six co-passengers -- one satellite each from Indonesia and Canada, and four nano satellites from the US. These satellites have already arrived and those preparations are going on."

These six satellites are meant for maritime surveillance.

ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) had transported ASTROSAT to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, using a specially-designed Satellite Transportation System (STS) on August 16.

The mission is capable of performing observations in ultra-violet (UV), optical, low and high-energy X-ray wavebands at the same time, ISRO had earlier said.

It had said ASTROSAT is the first mission to be operated as a space observatory by ISRO.

ASTROSAT carries four X-ray payloads, one UV telescope and a charge particle monitor.
Apart from ISRO, four other Indian institutions -- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics and Raman Research Institute -- are involved in payload development.

Two of the payloads are in collaboration with Canadian Space Agency and University of Leiscester, UK, ISRO had said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Astrosat ready to be launched today

CHENNAI, Sept 28, 2015, DHNS

India will reach another milestone in its history of space technology on Monday with the launch of Astrosat, the country’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, along with six foreign satellites at the spaceport in Sriharikota.

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro’s) most trusted rocket and workhorse launch flight — Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV C-30, which is the tenth mission of PSLV in its “XL” configuration — will carry these satellites after the takeoff scheduled at 10 am from the first launch pad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

With the 50-hour countdown having started at 8 am on Saturday, propellant filling on different stages of the rocket was going smoothly.

Countdown normal
“Countdown activities are progressing normally. The health parameters of the rocket is normal,” Deviprasad Karnik, Director, Public Relations, Isro, told Deccan Herald on Sunday.

“Scientific Astrosat satellite mission endeavours for a more detailed understanding of our universe,” he said adding “one of the unique features of Astrosat mission is that it enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite”.

Smooth countdown for India joining space observatory owner club
Chennai, Sep 27, 2015 (IANS)

The countdown for the launch of Indian rocket carrying ASTROSAT, India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory that will help in understanding the universe, and six other foreign satellites was progressing smoothly on Sunday, a senior official of the Indian space agency ISRO said.

"The countdown is progressing without any hitch. The fuelling of the rocket's second stage (engine) has started and would be completed late on Sunday. The rocket is set to blast off at 10 a.m.," a senior official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) not wanting to be quoted told IANS over phone from Sriharikota.

The successful launch of the around Rs.180 crore and 1,513 kg ASTROSAT and placing it in orbit at an altitude of 650 km above the earth on Monday morning would make India a member of select group of nations having its own space observatory after the US, Japan, Russia and Europe.

However, it will not be right to call ASTROSAT as India's 'Hubble'. The Hubble owned and launched by the US in 1990 is 10 times heavier than the ASTROSAT and is said to cost $2.5 billion.

While the Hubble space telescope is still working now, India's ASTROSAT's life span is five years.

The 44.4 metre-tall 320-tonne polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-XL) version is a four-stage rocket with six strap-on motors for additional thrust during the initial phase of the flight.

The first and third stages are powered by solid fuel while the second and fourth stages are powered by liquid fuel which will be filled during the countdown.

Apart from fuelling up the engines, all the systems would be checked and re-checked during the countdown.

The 50-hour countdown for the rocket launch began at 8.00 a.m on Saturday at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, around 70 km from here.

The rocket with seven satellites cumulatively weighing 1,631 kg will blast off on Monday at 10.00 a.m. from the first launch pad of the rocket port.

For the third time an Indian rocket will be launching seven satellites in a single mission. In 2008, ISRO had launched 10 satellites in one go, including India's Cartosate-2A satellite.

Just over 22 minutes into the flight, the rocket will eject ASTROSAT.

Soon after, six other satellites will be put into orbit and the whole mission will come to an end in just over 25 minutes.

ASTROSAT, with a life span of five years, will observe the universe through optical, ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray components of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas most other scientific satellites are capable of observing through a narrow wavelength band, the agency said.

The Indonesian 76 kg LAPAN-A2 is a micro-satellite from the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space, meant for providing maritime surveillance using automatic identification system (AIS), supporting Indonesian radio amateur communities for disaster mitigation and carrying out earth surveillance using video and digital camera.

The 14 kg NLS-14 (Ev9) of Space Flight Laboratory, University of Toronto Institute for Advanced Studies, is also a maritime monitoring Canadian nano satellite using the next generation AIS.

The remaining four LEMUR nano satellites from Spire Global Inc., San Francisco, US, are non-visual remote sensing satellites, focusing primarily on global maritime intelligence through vessel tracking via AIS and high-fidelity weather forecasting using GPS radio occultation technology, the ISRO said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Department of Space
28-September, 2015 13:47 IST

PSLV Successfully Launches India’s Multi Wavelength Space Observatory ASTROSAT

In its thirty first flight (PSLV-C30) conducted today (September 28, 2015), India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle successfully launched ASTROSAT, the country's Multi Wavelength Space Observatory along with six foreign customer satellites into a 644.6 X 651.5 km orbit inclined at an angle of 6 deg to the equator. The achieved orbit is very close to the intended one. This was the thirtieth consecutive success for PSLV.

PSLV was launched today in its heaviest ‘XL’ version with six strap-on motors of the first stage. The launch took place from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota, the spaceport of India.

The 320 tonne, 45 m tall PSLV-C30 carrying seven satellites including the 1513 kg ASTROSAT, lifted off at 10:00 Hrs IST. About twenty two minutes after lift-off, ASTROSAT was successfully placed in orbit and separated from the fourth stage of PSLV-C30. The separation of all the six co-passenger satellites was completed in the subsequent three minutes. The seven satellites carried by PSLV-C30 together weighed about 1631 kg at lift-off.

After a 50 hour smooth count down, the 320 ton PSLV-C28 was launched with the ignition of its first stage. The important flight events included the ignition and separation of the strap-ons, separation of the first stage, ignition of the second stage, separation of the payload fairing after the vehicle had cleared the dense atmosphere, second stage separation, third stage ignition and third stage separation, fourth stage ignition and fourth stage cut-off.

Through 30 successful flights during 1994-2015 period, PSLV has launched a total of 84 satellites including the seven satellites successfully launched today. The vehicle has repeatedly proved its reliability and versatility by successfully launching satellites into a variety of orbits including polar Sun Synchronous, Geosynchronous Transfer and Low Earth orbits of small inclination thereby emerging as the workhorse launch vehicle of India.

So far, 51 satellites have been launched by PSLV for customers from abroad. Today’s launch of six co-passenger satellites by PSLV-C30 was facilitated by Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a government of India Company under the Department of Space (DOS).

Soon after its separation from PSLV-C30, the two solar arrays of ASTROSAT were automatically deployed and the Spacecraft Control Centre at the Mission Operations Complex of ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bangalore took control of ASTROSAT.

ASTROSAT is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory. This scientific satellite mission endeavours for a more detailed understanding of our universe. ASTROSAT is designed to observe the universe in the Visible, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously with the help of its five payloads.

ASTROSAT was realised by ISRO with the participation of all major astronomy institutions including Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) of Pune, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) at Mumbai, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP) and Raman Research Institute (RRI) of Bangalore as well as some of the Universities in India and two institutions from Canada and the UK.

In the coming days, ASTROSAT will be brought to the final operational configuration and all its five scientific payloads will be thoroughly tested before the commencement of regular operations.

Today’s successful flight of PSLV further underscores the reliability and versatility of PSLV as well as the robustness of its design.

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President's Secretariat
28-September, 2015 17:17 IST
President of India congratulates ISRO on PSLV’s successful Launch of ASTROSAT

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has congratulated the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on PSLV’s successful launch of ASTROSAT.

In his message to Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman of ISRO, the President has said, “I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to you and your entire team at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on the successful launch of PSLV-C30 carrying ASTROSAT, India’s first dedicated space observatory.

With the successful launch of Astrosat, our nation has become the fourth country in the world to have launched a space observatory, which will be useful in the improved study of celestial objects and the universe. The nation is proud of this impressive achievement, which has demonstrated, yet again, India’s increasing space capabilities.

Kindly convey my greetings to all members of your team and all others involved in this great mission. I wish all your future endeavours great success.”

****

Vice President's Secretariat
28-September, 2015 19:25 IST
Vice President of India congratulates ISRO on PSLV’s successful Launch of ASTROSAT

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has here today congratulated the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on PSLV’s successful launch of ASTROSAT.


Following is the text of Vice President’s congratulatory message:


“I learnt with great happiness that Indian Space Research Organization’s PSLV C-30 rocket today successfully placed in orbit – AstroSat, India’s first dedicated astronomy satellite as well as Canada's NLS-14 nanosatellite, Indonesia's LAPAN-A2 microsatellite and four identical LEMUR nano satellites for the United States. The scientific payloads abroad AstroSat will help the scientific community in improving our understanding of the universe.


I congratulate all the members of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) team for this accomplishment. This is another successful chapter in the saga achievements of our scientists, engineers and technologists. They have again shown the strength of India’s scientific capacity and have done the nation proud. I wish ISRO success to in all their future endeavors.”


***

Prime Minister's Office28-September, 2015 14:51 IST
PM congratulates ISRO for successful launch of ASTROSAT

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated the Indian Space Research Organization for PSLV's successful launch of India’s Multi Wavelength Space Observatory, ASTROSAT.

"Well done ISRO. This is one more grand accomplishment for Indian science and our scientists: PSLV Successfully Launches India’s Multi Wavelength Space Observatory ASTROSAT - ISRO," the Prime Minister said.

***

Ministry of Science & Technology
28-September, 2015 10:56 IST
The Minster of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences

Shri Y S Chodary Congratulates Scientists on the Sucessful Launch of ASTROSAT The Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Shri Y S Chowdary today personally congratulated all scientists on the successful launch of PSLV C 30 after the launch vehicle successfully placed the ASTROSAT satellite along with six other customer satellites of other countries in their respective orbits.

Shri Y S Chowdary had keenly witnessed the launch along with the scientists at the First Launch Pad in at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, (SHAR) at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

He later said that we should all endeavour to take science forward for the development of the country and for alleviating the problems of the people.

*********

 

[Hindustani78]

ISRO launches ASTROSAT, first space observatory
29 Sep, 2015
Text: PTI

Joining an elite group of nations, India today successfully launched its first space research observatory ASTROSAT that will help in a detailed understanding of the universe and also put into orbit six foreign satellites including the first from the US
.

PSLV, in its 31st flight, injected ASTROSAT
29 Sep, 2015
ISRO's trusted workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), in its 31st flight, injected ASTROSAT and the six co-passengers into orbit about 25 minutes after a perfect lift-off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

Dubbed as a mini-Hubble telescope
29 Sep, 2015
Launched in its maiden attempt, ASTROSAT, which includes a telescope that uses x-ray, has been dubbed as a mini-Hubble telescope launched by US' NASA in 1990 and a one-stop shop for studying astronomical sources.

Mission life of five years
29 Sep, 2015
Post the successful injection of ASTROSAT into the orbit, ASTROSAT Project Director K S Sarma said it was 'healthy and doing well'. It has a mission life of five years.

It has a mass of about 1,513 kg
29 Sep, 2015
With a lift-off mass of about 1,513 kg, ASTROSAT was first injected into a 650 km orbit by PSLV-C30, followed by the other six satellites in the space of about three minutes.

International customer satellites piggybacked
29 Sep, 2015
International customer satellites that piggybacked the polr rocket were the LAPAN-A2 of Indonesia meant for maritime surveillance using Automatic Identification System (AIS), and maritime monitoring nanosatellite from Canada, NLS-14 (Ev9), which uses 'next generation' AIS.

Will observe the universe in low and high energy X-ray regions
29 Sep, 2015
ASTROSAT will observe the universe in optical,ultraviolet low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, while most other scientific satellites are capable of observing a narrow range of wavelength band.

 

[Hindustani78]

Will send back data and study parts of the universe
29 Sep, 2015
It will send back data and study parts of the universe including black holes and the magnetic fields of stars.

Will bring in new information to scientific community
29 Sep, 2015
a beaming ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said PSLV had put in an astronomy mission which is being looked at not only within the country but also globally to bring in new information to scientific community.

 

[Hindustani78]

ISRO's Astrosat enables India to study celestial objects - The Hindu


With the successful launch of the space observatory, Astrosat, the Indian Space Research Organisation has put India in a select group of countries that have a space telescope to study celestial objects and processes. The ability to simultaneously study a wide variety of wavelengths — visible light, ultraviolet and X-ray (both low- and high-energy) bands — has tremendous implications for scientists globally, particularly those in India. Though stars and galaxies emit in multiple wavebands, currently operational satellites have instruments that are capable of observing only a narrow range of wavelength band. Since the Earth’s atmosphere does not allow X-rays and ultraviolet energy from distant cosmic objects to reach ground-based telescopes, space observatories become important to unravel celestial mysteries. With Astrosat, Indian researchers will no longer have to rely on other space agencies for X-ray data, and scientists everywhere need no longer source data from more than one satellite to get a fuller picture of celestial processes. As in the case of Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan, the Astrosat telescope will have no immediate commercial or societal implications. But the instruments have been carefully chosen to allow scientists to pursue cutting-edge research. Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan returned invaluable information, although they were launched several years after other countries sent satellites to the Moon and Mars. Given the uniqueness of Astrosat, it will enable Indian researchers to work in the frontier areas of high-energy astrophysics.

It is for the first time that a majority of the payloads for an Indian satellite has come from outside ISRO. In fact, ISRO has built just one of the five payloads for Astrosat; the rest comes from scientific institutions based in India. Two of the payload operation centres that would validate the data obtained by Astrosat will be located in the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Fundamental Research that built three of the payloads, and one each in the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Pune, and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru that built one payload. This is in recognition of their contribution to the mission. Besides providing an opportunity to build world-class instruments, Astrosat will present an ideal platform for researchers in these institutions. As is the norm internationally, for a year the teams that built the payloads would have exclusive control over what is observed by the satellite. That singularly will be the biggest benefit to Indian researchers.

Indonesia lauds 'Make in India' drive on day its satellite launched

Jakarta, Sep 30, 2015, (IANS)

Indonesia could learn much from the 'Make in India' initiative, a senior minister said on the day an Indian rocket hurled an Indonesian satellite into orbit.

Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro also praised India's management of its current account deficit and rupee volatility, issues which other countries, including Indonesia, ad found to be a huge challenge.

He was speaking at a special event here Monday organized by the Indian embassy through the India Business Forum to mark the first anniversary of the 'Make in India' campaign.

"The day is special to mark 'Make in India' because in the morning, (an Indian) PSLV C-30 (rocket) had launched an Indonesian-made satellite as part of its payload. This emphasizes the quality and conception of Make in India and South-South cooperation between India and Indonesia," Indian Ambassador Gurjit Singh said on the occasion.

A special CD in Bahasa Indonesia highlighting the opportunities under Make in India was released on the occasion. The Deputy Minister of National Development Planning Board (Bappenas), Leonard Tampubolon, and the Director General in the Ministry of Industry, Achmad S. Dwiwahyono, also participated in the event.

In his opening remarks, Gurjit Singh said that Make in India, Digital India, Skill Development and Renewable Energy are the key sectors in which India and Indonesia can work together for mutual benefit. Both the countries can also cooperate in the development of Smart Cities.

The finance minister, in his keynote address, recognized India as a major economic partner of Indonesia, which needs to learn from India on managing currency fluctuation, controlling the current account deficit and maintaining the GDP growth trajectory.

He emphasised that Indian companies can invest in Indonesia, especially in the steel and metal business and help the country by utilizing its natural resources. Indonesia should cooperate with India on renewable energy and infrastructure in the PPP model. On tourism, the minister said that Indians will be allowed visa-free entry to Indonesia very soon.

"The members of the India Business Forum (IBF) had detailed discussions with the Deputy Minister of Bappenas and the DG of Ministry of Industry seeking clarifications on rules and regulations on specific issues.

The officials gave a presentation on investment opportunities, tax benefits, measures to facilitate investments and responded in detail to the queries raised and advised the IBF members to approach them for any issues in future," an Indian embassy statement said.

The IBF is an initiative of the Indian embassy to bring together Indian CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals in Indonesia. It serves as a platform for a cross section of companies and individuals working in Indonesia to discuss ways and means of achieving enhanced economic engagement with Indonesia.

One of the main objectives of the Forum is to engage with the Indonesian leaders on interactive sessions and bring forth suggestions and concerns.

"The embassy regularly organises interactive sessions of the IBF with key ministers to seek their guidance and support," the statement said.