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Indian Space Capabilities

Aditya - L1 First Indian mission to study the Sun
The Aditya-1 mission was conceived as a 400kg class satellite carrying one payload, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) and was planned to launch in a 800 km low earth orbit. A Satellite placed in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/ eclipses. Therefore, the Aditya-1 mission has now been revised to “Aditya-L1 mission” and will be inserted in a halo orbit around the L1, which is 1.5 million km from the Earth. The satellite carries additional six payloads with enhanced science scope and objectives.

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Image credit: Udaipur Solar Observatory – PRL (Ground-based)

The project is approved and the satellite will be launched during 2019 – 2020 timeframe by PSLV-XL from Sriharikota.

Aditya-1 was meant to observe only the solar corona. The outer layers of the Sun, extending to thousands of km above the disc (photosphere) is termed as the corona. It has a temperature of more than a million degree Kelvin which is much higher than the solar disc temperature of around 6000K. How the corona gets heated to such high temperatures is still an unanswered question in solar physics.

Aditya-L1 with additional experiments can now provide observations of Sun's Photosphere (soft and hard X-ray), Chromosphere (UV) and corona (Visible and NIR). In addition, particle payloads will study the particle flux emanating from the Sun and reaching the L1 orbit, and the magnetometer payload will measure the variation in magnetic field strength at the halo orbit around L1. These payloads have to be placed outside the interference from the Earth’s magnetic field and could not have been useful in the low earth orbit.



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The main payload continues to be the coronagraph with improved capabilities. The main optics for this experiment remains the same. The complete list of payloads, their science objective and lead institute for developing the payload is provided below:

  • Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC): To study the diagnostic parameters of solar corona and dynamics and origin of Coronal Mass Ejections (3 visible and 1 Infra-Red channels); magnetic field measurement of solar corona down to tens of Gauss –Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)
  • Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT): To image the spatially resolved Solar Photosphere and Chromosphere in near Ultraviolet (200-400 nm) and measure solar irradiance variations - Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA)
  • Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) : To study the variation of solar wind properties as well as its distribution and spectral characteristicsPhysical Research Laboratory (PRL)
  • Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) : To understand the composition of solar wind and its energy distribution – Space Physics Laboratory (SPL), VSSC
  • Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS) : To monitor the X-ray flares for studying the heating mechanism of the solar corona – ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC)
  • High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS): To observe the dynamic events in the solar corona and provide an estimate of the energy used to accelerate the particles during the eruptive events - ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC)and Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO), PRL
  • Magnetometer: To measure the magnitude and nature of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field – Laboratory for Electro-optic Systems (LEOS) and ISAC.
With the inclusion of multiple payloads, this project also provides an opportunity to solar scientists from multiple institutions within the country to participate in space based instrumentation and observations. Thus the enhanced Aditya-L1 project will enable a comprehensive understanding of the dynamical processes of the sun and address some of the outstanding problems in solar physics.
 
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ISRO has announced test of Electric propulsion concept in its forthcoming
GSAT-19 satellite, after the earlier GSAT-4, also carrying one of these, failed to reach orbit for operationalisation.

Ion Thrusters Of ISRO's Electric Propulsion System

ISRO puts off nuclear powered space mission
NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to put off for time being its plans to use nuclear power to increase lifespan of India's second lunar mission Chandrayaan 2 as there has been delay in getting the required nuclear material from Russia.
The nuclear power is expected expected to increase the lifespan of the mission as life of Chandrayaan 1, launched in 2008, was cut short by two months due to technical problems. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has been also working to make the nuclear material for the mission.
"We had plans to give nuclear power to
Chandrayaan 2 but now we have decided to put it off for time being as we don't want further delay in launch which is scheduled for 2017-18," said ISRO satellite centre director M Annadurai.
The second lunar mission was l scheduled for launch in 2013 as joint operation between India and Russia. But after failure of Russia’s Phobos-Grunt, mission to probe Maritian moon, it decided to do an internal assessment of its programme.
India then decided to make Chandryaan 2 as a completely indigenous mission with all three components of the mission orbiter, lander and rover made in the country.
"Once we get the material we have to do necessary experiments which will further delay the mission. There has been some delay in getting material from Russia," he said.
ISRO is now looking forward to use the nuclear powered mission in future projects.
"We plan to take Chandrayaan 3 and 4 in near future and we may use nuclear power in those missions. By that time we will be completely ready with the materials and other things," he added.
India plans to have a high altitude polar landing of Chandrayaan 2 and it will have a capability to soft land and carry in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface. A new throttled engine is being developed that will reduce the thrust for landing on the surface of the moon.


Cdy-3 and Cdy-4


ISRO’s ability to build communication satellites in Ahmedabad to rise five-fold

This new facility which is coming up on 60 acres in Bopal locality of the city, will cater to ISRO's demand for building newer and more sophisticated communications satellites.
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Of the 1200 odd satellites that are currently orbiting the Earth, over 50 percent of them are communications satellites.

The Space Applications Centre (SAC), an important arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) that started payload development with India’s first experimental communication satellite Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE) in 1981, will see a five-fold increase in it’s ability to build communication satellites at Ahmedabad.

This new facility which is coming up on 60 acres in Bopal locality of the city, will cater to ISRO’s demand for building newer and more sophisticated communications satellites.


“Every other day we see some new television channel being launched. There is a huge demand for communications satellites across the world and in order to cater to this demand we are building a new communication satellite production facility on a 60 acre campus in Bopal which will be able to simultaneously integrate 10-payloads at a time,” said the director of SAC, Tapan Misra, while talking to The Indian Express.

Of the 1200 odd satellites that are currently orbiting the Earth, over 50 percent of them are communications satellites. This new communication laboratory at Bopal will be able to handle five-time more payloads in comparison it’s existing facility at Jodhpur Tekra, which can currently handle only two payloads at a time.

SAC which started payload development activity with India’s first experimental communication satellite, APPLE, has so far indigenously designed and developed at least 29 communication satellites which includes, INSAT series of satellites, GSAT series and IRNSS series. GSAT-15 was the latest of communication satellite to be integrated at SAC and launched by ISRO in November 2015.

Over 250 scientists working at this communication satellite laboratory at SAC are currently working on important communication satellites like GSAT-18, GSAT-11 and seventh satellite of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). “If everything goes as per plans, then this new facility at Bopal should be up and running by April 2016,” Misra added.

Apart from the communication laboratory, the new campus will also house a fabrication unit and a vendor complex. “The vendor complex has been created mostly for entry-level entrepreneurs who want to work with ISRO. About 20 vendors can work simultaneously at this complex. They can bring in their machinery and their manpower and work for us within our campus,” the director said adding that such a vendor complex will help cut costs for SAC which currently operates with 30-odd private vendors.

It's sad to see that all of space enthusiasts were banned. :(
Because we replied **** trolls on our space program.
:D
Ban on me is lifted and others too will come soon.
I will regularly update this thread now.
It won't be stuck or silent. My promise. :-)

Isro to use electric propulsion on satellites to carry more transponders

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Ion Thrusters

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Thermal Vac test

L-3 Communications Electron Technologies
 
ISRO Scientists Answer Questions All Indian Space Nerds Have Been Wanting To Ask
by Abhishek Saxsena
January 1, 2016


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If you’re a space nerd like us, you’ll jump at the opportunity to pick the brains of some of the brightest minds that work at ISRO. A Reddit AMA held recently was one such opportunity and as you can guess, there were some important insights into ISRO’s current and future projects. Also, as you'll find out, they have a sense of humour too.

Q. And When would ISRO realistically be able to safely send man into space?

A. Once government gives green signal, you may expect (most probably) an IAF pilot in space within 5(-ish) years. :) Space suits for Vyomanauts (Yes) have already been developed. Google for images. Visit Space Museum in Thumba to see a model.

Q. A silly one perhaps but what is purpose of that huge yellow crane on top of Umbilical Tower of SLP ? I have never seen it in action!

A. It does what a crane does: lifts objects. In this case, heavy rocket parts, if and when required.

Q. What can a common man do to help Isro?

A. Pay your taxes.

Q. How does it feel like to work for ISRO? I MEAN IT'S ISRO YOU GUYS!

A. The force is strong with this organisation (plus 7th CPC makes things slightly better for the wallet too).

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Q. What did you guys think about the movie Interstellar?

A. It was epic. Also NASA branding ftw.

Q. What are some of the big-ticket projects planned in the near-future except commercial satellites?

A. RLV (Reusable Launch Vehicle), IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System), LVM3, Chandrayaan-2, Aditya-I... to name a few. IRNSS is slated to be much more accurate than GPS, and GoI will shift to it for all its navigational purposes. Aditya will be our mission to the sun. LVM3 is a huge rocket that will finally make us completely reliant vis-à-vis launch vehicle technology. And CY2 will have a rover!

Q. Is the first Indian to go to space in an Indian shuttle in 2017 already selected?

A. No. No further progress on Human Spaceflight Programme until govt. gives its nod (and money).

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Q. Any new news about our cryogenic Engines?

A. We are developing a 20 ton thrust gas generator cycle cryogenic engine which will be ready in a few months. The cryogenic engine will be used in the launch of GSLV MK-III which we have planned to launch in December 2016. There are plans to have an increased propellant loading and clustering of engines for use in Heavy Lift vehicles in the future.

The CE-7.5 cryogenic stage used in GSLV Mk-II will see some upgrades with regards to propellant loading (12.5 tons to 15 tons) )to increase the payload capability. There has been a continuous effort to uprate the engines and look for solutions to optimize the stage.


Q. What is the plan for human space flight? Is it going ahead?

A. Human Space Flight is going to the initial process of prototyping and testing.

Q. Is development of a 600kn cryo engine underway or has it been scrapped?

A. There's no 600 kN semi-cryo as fas as i know. We are working on a bigger 2000kN semi-cryogenic engine for use in a 6ton class launch vehicle.

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Q. Pick one PSLV or GSLV. And why?

A. GSLV looks better and lifts heavier. However, it's quite costly and difficult to control (thrust). Mk 3 is our fav.

Q. Your go to pick up line. Also ever successfully used your job designation to pick up a girl (assuming you all are guys)

A. Waiting to write something funny:p

Q. Is there any ongoing DRDO and ISRO joint project?

A. If I tell you, I will have to kill you.

Q. Where do you see space research 10 years from now? what about 20 years? what about 30 years? can you also do 40 years and 50 years?

A. 10 years: Robotic base on Mars.

20 years: Human base on Mars, scaling of ion propulsion.

30 years: Colonisation of Mars, cheaper launches, space tourism becomes routine.

40 years: We finally start doing something substantial about the space debris problem, Space mining for real.

50 years: Spotting an exoplanet to explore by a probe, space bungalow (complete with a study) for parking my retired behind.

Q. So what is your go to leisure activities when you are not working?

A. Apart from the usual popular ones I subscribe to writing prompts, photoshopbattles, fitness, frugal, lifeprotips, youshouldknow, manga, naruto, nottheonion, metal, 4chan and android.


ISRO Scientists Answer Questions All Indian Space Nerds Have Been Wanting To Ask


Simply,
SLV-50kg to LEO
ASLV- 150 kg to LEo
PSLV- 2500 kg to LEO
GSLV Mk2 : 5500 lg to LEO
LVM3(experimental): 8000kg to LEO.
GSLV Mk3: 10000-12000kg to LEO
ULV: 15000 kg to LEO
HLV: 20000-25000kg to LEO
Super Heavy Rocket Concept 2010: 31000-100000 kg to LEO
:partay::partay::partay::paraty:
Love new concepts. :D
I'm losing my patience day by day.
@Ankit Kumar @Abingdonboy @samlove @Tshering22 @SrNair @nair @ito


Space parks to lift ISRO run rate
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To engage domestic firms in launch vehicles — from integrating sub-systems to assembling and launching the PSLV.
Two space industry enclaves or “parks” that have been conceived — one for launchers at Sriharikota and a smaller one at an existing Bengaluru spacecraft campus — signal increased privatisation of the nation’s space programme over the next five years.

For now, the facilities will be “captive” to drive the future missions of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

First, ISRO wants to groom and engage domestic industry in the launch vehicles area from integrating sub-systems up to assembling, and even launching the PSLV.

This well-established rocket has put Indian and foreign satellites of up to 1,600 kg into space.

ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, A.S. Kiran Kumar, told The Hindu:“Internal discussions have just started on the mechanism of forming a (launch vehicle) consortium. A few key industry players working in the space programme have been sounded.”

Eventually the future consortium will be fully responsible for building and launching the light-lift PSLV rocket.

Currently industries such as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Godrej & Boyce, Larsen & Toubro, MTAR and Walchandnagar Industries produce 80 per cent of the launch vehicle parts and sub-units.

These production works are scattered across their respective locations. The launch industry initiative must be close to ISRO’s launch complex, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, at the 145-sq km Sriharikota range, on the lines of the launch complex of Europe’s Arianespace in French Guiana, Mr. Kiran Kumar told The Hindu.

Satellite support

On the spacecraft front, ISRO plans to increasingly support small and mid-sized industries at its 10-year-old second spacecraft complex, the 100-acre ISITE, at Marathahalli in Bengaluru.

ISITE, short for ISRO Satellite Integration & Test Establishment, is already open to a few suppliers who assemble and test their spacecraft systems for the ISRO. In the coming years, more satellites will be needed for replacing the ageing ones in orbit and new advanced communication, Earth observation and navigation spacecraft.

Mr. Kiran Kumar said, "ISRO plans to ramp up the frequency of satellite launches. In the last two years we did up to five launches [of both PSLV and GSLV rockets] in a year. The plan is to double this in two years and take it to about 16 over the next four years. Industry’s present capacity is unable to meet our increasing launch frequency, for both internal and commercial satellites. We expect a private-public industry consortium initiative to improve industry's capacity and our frequency."

SHAR is also putting up a second Vehicle Asssembly Bay to improve the pace of building launchers. In the coming years more satellites would be needed for replacing the ageing ones in orbit and new advanced communication, Earth observation and navigation spacecraft; and launchers, too. ISRO also hopes to build satellites for international operators.

Second Vehicle Assembly Building being realized by ISRO
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SVAB is being realised as an additional integration facility with suitable interfacing to second launch pad, it said. (Representative Image)
BENGALURU: ISRO's Second Vehicle Assembly Building (SVAB) is being realised as an additional integration facility, with suitable interfacing to a second launch pad at Sriharikota, even as the space agency plans to increase its launch frequency to more than 12 missions per year.

Five launches per year have been achieved during the last two years and it is targeted to increase the launch frequency to eight missions in the immediate future and more than 12 missions per year subsequently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said today.

Towards meeting these future targets,SVAB is being realised as an additional integration facility with suitable interfacing to second launch pad, it said.

Necessary augmentations are planned in Solid Motor production and other launch base infrastructure, it added.

With the successful lift-off of the PSLV-C29 launch vehicle carrying six Singapore satellites on December 16, 2015 from the first Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre ( SDSC), SHAR;ISRO marked a history as it completed 50 launches from the spaceport.

Out of 50 launches from Sriharikota, 32 were Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), nine are Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), four Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV), four Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and one GSLV MkIII-X.

Stating that the journey started with the realisation of facilities for integration and launch of the first Satellite Launch Vehicle SLV-3, ISRO said initially independent launch pads were realised for the first generation launch vehicles of SLV-3 and ASLV.

Subsequently, two versatile launch pads, namely First Launch Pad and Second Launch Pad were realised and both have provisions to integrate and launch the present operational vehicles of PSLV and GSLV.

The Second Launch Pad is augmented to meet requirements of integration and launch of next generation launch vehicle GSLV MkIII.

In parallel, facilities have been established for production of Solid Motors required for all launch vehicles of ISRO, the space agency added.

Out of 50 launches from Sriharikota, 43 were successful and seven were unsuccessful, including the first launch SLV-3 E1 on August 10, 1979.[/B][/S]
 
Geo-Spatial Technology for Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan
A novel initiative to contribute in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan using the Geo-spatial Technology (GST) was taken up jointly by the central Government institutions in Dehradun. This initiative was supported by Nagar Nigam, Dehradun (local authorities). Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), a Unit of ISRO, coordinated this programme in collaboration with the following institutions:

  • Anthropological Survey of India
  • Archaeological Survey of India
  • Botanical Survey of India
  • Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL), DRDO
  • Indian Institute of Petroleum
  • Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation
  • Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE), DRDO
  • Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology
  • Wildlife Institute of India
  • Zoological Survey of India


Geo-spatial Technology (GST)

Geo-spatial technology (GST) includes a suite of three technologies: 1) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), or more popularly, Global Positioning System (GPS) which provides geographic location or positions of specific points on the Earth 2) Space-borne satellite images which provide pictorial description of the point in the context of neighborhood locations 3) Geographical Information System (GIS) which integrates these two along with many other information layers like road and infrastructure, topography, land use, soil, geology, etc., and also allows people to generate and use maps required to manage our resources for the benefit of common man. Today, GST is being used as a working platform for realising e-governance with a large number of applications from natural resources mapping and monitoring to infrastructure and development planning, meteorology, disaster management support, to name a few.

With the availability of GPS data through smart phones at affordable cost, better governance and providing location based services to the public has become feasible. Application of GST in Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan has been attempted for the first time by IIRS, Dehradun.



Methodology

The reconnaissance survey using India's GPS-Aided Geo-Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) receiver was carried out to precisely locate the authorised and unauthorised garbage dumping sites covering five main routes in Dehradun city. The road network connected to the dumping sites was also mapped for route planning. Geo-tagging of all the participating government institutes were also done. GIS techniques such as geo-fencing (buffering), geo-spatial analysis (spatial and attribute queries), etc., were used to develop an optimum implementation plan. A map was prepared representing geo-fencing of each institute considering time constraints and resource allocation. Each route was supported with respective teams of both IIRS and collaborative institutes (471 volunteers and 43 Nagar Nigam personnel) to impliment the proposed activity. Real-time monitoring and support was provided to the overall activity from IIRS control room.

Twenty two garbage dumping sites and roadsides were cleaned within a span of 3 hours. Around 45 m3 (approximately 10 ton) of garbage was collected and disposed during this entire exercise. The details of this event are available atwww.iirs.gov.in/SBA.html.



Mapping and monitoring of Garbage sites through Crowd sourcing

One of the unique results of this novel multi-institutional initiative is the conceptualisation of crowd sourcing tool to identify, map and monitor the dumping sites. A Swachh Bharat Mobile Application (beta version) is being developed by IIRS in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi which will allow any user to install the mobile app in their smart phones and send the garbage site geo-tagged information to the Nagar Nigam server (if available) for further action. Thus crowd sourcing for Swachh Bharat will be soon realised and implemented with the help of Academic Institutions as a regular exercise for the cleanliness of the city.

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ANU to team up with ISRO to design multiple object tracking software
Acharya Nagarjuna University will team up with Satish Dhawan Space Centre- Indian Space Research Organisation (SDSC-ISRO) to develop a multiple object tracking software (MOTR) with functions ranging from missile tracking in defence to tracking of flight paths in airports.

The ANU has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SDSC-SHAR to design the MOTR and it is the first university in the country to have a tie-up with SDSC-SHAR in designing indigenous radars. India is the fourth nation in the world, after the US, Japan and Germany to design MOTR, Principal, University College of Engineering, P. Siddhaih said.

He said that the ANU has been granted the project estimated to cost Rs.30 lakh with which it would provide high frequency structural simulator software.

“The software can also be used in tracking of submarine and satellite launching. We are using the Electron Beam Steering Technique for tracking of objects,’’ Dr. Siddhaiah told The Hindu on Monday.

The ANU would also collaborate with ISRO to implement high gain antennas and a radar system which would be simulated with the help of high-end work stations, Dr. Siddhaih added.

The electron beam steering would ensure that the antenna could be moved by electron beams.

Appreciating the efforts of Dr. Siddhaih in bagging the prestigious project, ANU Vice-Chancellor V.S.S. Kumar said that the university would extend its support to all research activities in science and technology.


University engineering college principal P. Siddhaih says the software can also be used in tracking of submarine and satellite launching

NHAI signs MoU with ISRO and NECTAR for use of spatial technology for monitoring national highways
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NHAI has signed Memorandum of Understanding with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) for use of spatial technology for monitoring and managing national highways.

The use of satellite data and geospatial technology will be useful in providing inputs in highway and infrastructure projects for preparation of DPR(Detailed Project Report), prefeasibility status in new alignment, upgrade/road widening, monitoring of road segments under construction and Road Asset Management System.
The use and benefits of unmanned aerial vehicle technology will be useful in monitoring, construction progress, Road Asset Management, feasibility report and DPR preparation, immediate assessment and remedy of problematic spots etc.

NHAI will take up some pilot projects with both the organisations to identify and finalise actual use and benefits of both satellite data & geospatial technology and UAV technology in highway and infrastructure sector. A technical cell would also be set up which will run 24x7 to provide relevant project specific data using this technology to project report Consultants, Engineers, staff and users.

@samlove @Guynextdoor2 @SrNair @Abingdonboy @Ankit Kumar @Tshering22 @Bornubus @gslvmarkIII @AMCA @Loginwithfacebook @GURU DUTT @Zarvan @bejingwalker @Chinese-Dragon @1ndy @cirr @wangalokan @faithfulguy @PaklovesTurkiye @MaarKhoor
Some awesome images from Astrosat too which were ignored at that time due to concentration on other issues. :D
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Official: :partay:
ASTROSAT Completes 100 days in Orbit - ISRO

Too bad, both Indian and Kuwaiti flag emoticons aren't available on PDF. :-)
Cabinet apprised of ISRO-KISR MoU for joint space exploration

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The MoU will lead to setting up of a Joint Working Group, drawing members from ISRO and KISR, which will further work out the plan of action.

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet was today apprised of an agreement between ISRO and a Kuwaiti research body on cooperation in exploration of outer space and use of space technology for peaceful purposes.

The memorandum of understanding will enable pursuing potential interest areas in both cooperative and commercial mode. These include use of data from Indian Remote Sensing satellites byKuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) for initiating research and application projects, training, and building and launching of remote sensing and communication satellites on commercial terms.

The MoU will lead to setting up of a Joint Working Group, drawing members from ISRO and KISR, which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing the agreement, an official statement said here.

"Cooperation with KISR through this MoU will lead to developing a joint activity in the field of application of space technology for the benefit of humanity...(it) will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellitecommunication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space," it said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today briefed the Union Cabinet about the successful launch of the fifth navigation satellite IRNSS-1E on-board the workhorse PSLV-C31 from Sriharikota this morning.

"The Cabinet applauded the ISRO, the scientists and others involved with the project," Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters at the Cabinet briefing here.
 
Presentation detailing ISRO's plans for future Earth-Observation (EO) satellites. Included are details regarding HySIS, India's first Hyperspectral satellite expected to be launched by this year-end, along with continuations of many existing series like CARTOSAT, Resourcesat etc.

Also mentioned are the developments regarding the new IMS-3 small-satellite bus.

http://www.nrsc.gov.in/pdf/1.1.User Meet_NRSC_2015-01-21_Ver-2_Anna_durai.pdf

Screenshots from the same;
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View .pdf presentation for further reading. Thanks to ohsin on the NASASpaceflight forum for the doc.


China has recently launched world's most powerful GEO Reconnaissance Satellite GaoFen-4 and currently only satellite of it's kind in or it at least now.
Till the India launches it's similar satellite ISRO GEO HR IMAGER next year.


Last Update for upper one.
ISRO, NASA to Engage in Chilika Lake for India's First Hyperspectral Study -The New Indian Express

India, France to Develop Satellite to Help Study Climate Change
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande are expected to announce on Monday a new project for joint development of a satellite to help study climate change and explore ways to manage and mitigate its impact.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Centre National d’ Etudes Spatiales (CNES) may ink a deal for jointly developing the satellite after Modi’s meeting with Hollande on Monday.

“There will be a new project of space program in relation to observation and prevention of climate change,” France’s Ambassador to India, Francois Richier, told journalists in New Delhi.

He said the French president’s visit would also see several MoUs being inked by higher education institutions of the two countries.

Hollande will land in Chandigarh on Sunday to commence his second visit to India. He will meet Modi on Monday and will be the chief guest at the Republic Day ceremony on Tuesday. Richier said thatu threat posed by climate change would be high on the agenda of the meeting between the prime minister and French president.

They are expected to discuss ways to step up bilateral cooperation on joint research and development and technology innovation as well as diffusion of clean energy and efficiency solutions that will help in transitioning towards a climate resilient and low carbon economy.

Both Paris and New Delhi are of the view that the ISRO-CNES cooperation should focus more on use of space technology to respond to climate change.

The CNES is keen to step up its cooperation with ISRO as India was one of the first nations to deploy high-quality satellite capabilities in response to the need to manage its water resources and address food security issues posed by the threat of climate change as well as the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climate events, officials said in New Delhi.

Two Satellites

India-France cooperation has already resulted in two satellites, which were jointly developed by ISRO and CNES and are now delivering precious operational data for climate study. While Megha-Tropiques, launched in 2011, is helping scientists to map cloud cover in three dimensions, Saral-AltiKa, launched in 2013, measures the surface height of oceans, lakes and rivers with millimetre accuracy, heralding new prospects for management of water resources.

On the occasion of Modi’s visit to Paris in April 2015, ISRO and CNES signed an agreement, which proposed cooperation in the areas of satellite remote sensing, satellite communications and satellite meteorology; space sciences and planetary exploration; data collection and location; operations of satellite ground stations and spacecraft mission management; space research and applications.

It covered the potential cooperation activities, such as joint earth observation mission, hosted payload opportunities and exploration of Mars.

India-France cooperation in space technology started with the setting up of sounding rocket launching facilities at Thumba in early 1960s and progressed through the development of liquid engines in the 1970s.

Source>>

The Future of ISRO – Get more Private Industries Involved and Encourage Academic Participation
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ISRO's Conception of the Human Rated Orbital Vehicle. design and testing of OV is in progress

by P.V. Manoranjan Rao

Former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation Dr K Kasturirangan, on the future of ISRO, the need to interface with university systems as well as consortium of industries and the viability of an Indian human space mission.

It is time we start looking at ISRO in a very different perspective. We cannot go on producing satellites and launch vehicles which are operational within the system. Right now, our manpower is about 15,000 to 18,000 or that kind of a number; it should not grow more than 20,000 to 22,000 whereas the number of missions should grow by three to four times in the coming five to eight years. Obviously, this can come only if there is an external capacity that is built and the whole mechanism of institutionalising, and how to do it outside ISRO, are well planned and ensured. Industries have been meeting ISRO’s requirements very well. With proper policy framework for ISRO in place, the industry can be allowed to use our launch and test facilities. This is yet to take place. It’s not purely outsourcing.

Industries will have to get missions, get the stakeholders and user community and also do business with outside world. And for that, it has to be more than just being an outsourcing system. So you have to really create a parallel ISRO within the industrial system in this country. This is important.

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Dr Kasturirangan

Yes, you need to focus on R&D, proof of concept missions, international collaborations, human space mission as and when it takes place, planetary programmes, etc. This should be all within the scope and the overall agreed programmes on space, which should be the mandate of ISRO. But the moment an operational system is created, a consortium of industries should come and take it over and also do business on that basis. So, that is what I would say should be the next attempt.

On frustrating Moments

Frustration comes in because you have expectations and you don’t meet those. Expectations from ISRO, particularly from outside, are great; many times it is difficult because people think that a great thing is happening in this country and they do not have a benchmark, so their expectations are high. Within ISRO, we know there is a gap between what we are capable of and what we are doing.

Then we get frustrated because we think that we should be doing more. Take for example remote sensing applications: in ISRO we have major centres doing this. We have operationalised some applications. We also have Regional Remote Sensing Centres. Very good. But when we see what systems like Google are doing, we know we are far from them. We should have gone ahead without any constraints on using remote sensing data.

The second thing is the non-proliferation of space science into the university system. I think we have got very limited interface with university systems. You look at planetary mission like Chandrayaan. How many university papers do we see? Practically nothing. It was not pushed with passion. Now Mangalyaan! It was called as a test flight for technology. I was amazed at the way in which these things are being said outside. Planetary mission is a planetary mission. You will have instruments with which we can do contemporary science. You’re going to have a new look at Mars with respect to its origin, its atmosphere, the climatology system, its implication with respect to Earth. This is the objective.

You need to have technology. Technology always is driven by science and this technology is always higher than the technology you need for day-to-day and down-to-earth applications. So this is the loop you should really look at. So please make sure that this is a correction you need to make when you talk about planetary missions. ISRO will not have a technology demonstrator for planetary missions. It will be always science that will drive it.

In the process it will develop new technologies. Those new technologies will further improve our ability to explore and at the same time used for improving remote sensing and other kind of satellite technologies for down-to-earth application. So this is the way we should look at planetary missions and make sure that we get an opportunity to demonstrate that we’re able to go there and do experiment. We’re qualifying ourselves into a global player and try to function in a consortium. If you’re part of a consortium, you should be an equal partner, because you are able to contribute, which you have demonstrated.

And lastly it is also the way in which excitement can be created in the younger generation. This excitement in younger generation is going to be a sustaining factor. Presently not a single university is involved in the Mangalyaan mission. Not a single academic institution is involved. We need to transform the planetary missions as intellectual opportunities even as we demonstrate our technological capability.

Should India go for Human Space Missions?

Yes, in the long run. I think three or four countries have done it. And countries with the resources today are able to do it. Among countries capable of doing it, India can be included. But on the other hand, if you ask me whether we have lost time, we’ve not really lost time, because we build up our applications at a certain pace. So we have a certain way with which we’ve gone about our programme. ‘You need one more ISRO! People give you a wrong impression about the type of resources needed for human space mission. The returns may not be commensurate with the type of money we put into. Returns will never be big. So we need to wait.’ That’s what I told Prime Minister Vajpayee when he asked me about human space flights. But that doesn’t mean that we need not prepare for it. We should certainly aim for increased stature as a spacefaring nation.

Look at the amount of work the US did before embarking on a human space mission there, with their space shuttle. You cannot imagine, the documents they prepared would fill a whole room. The number of scientists, number of engineers, number of strategic planners, the managers – all of them were brought together and separately each one of them churned the concept. That doesn’t mean that concept is applicable to India. You need to go through a similar exercise.

For if Chandrayaan took us four years, a human space mission will take five to six years to specify what the human space mission should be. Then how do you implement it? There are many ways of doing it. You can go on a totally autonomous way. That is number one. Or, try to find out all that is available elsewhere. Exactly like we build a satellite using the components which are available in the market, we don’t build the components. You do an exercise of that kind for human space mission and see what can be bought and what can be built indigenously.

A judicious option has to be exercised very carefully. This is number two. Or we get major subsystems of human space mission and build it, like the Chinese did for the first and second manned capsules. That is number three. And then the fourth one is by enlarging, that is, get a human space mission working from another country. Work on. Like what we did for first cryogenic stage. And then give the Indianness to it. So these are just four approaches to do that. Each one of them, you look at the feasibility, the political considerations, the national priorities, the resources that we need and the time we need.

(Excerpted with permission from From Fishing Hamlet to Red Planet: India’s Space Journey, edited by P.V. Manoranjan Rao, HarperCollins India, 2015)

Source>>
 
What ANU and ISRO working on appears to be the back-end components (software, algorithms and related systems) for the ISRO's MOTR radar.

This radar is a beast.

showphoto.cfm

As it is prepared for trials, the MOTR is
composed of an estimated 4,600 T/R
radar modules capable of electronic
beam scanning. The electronic scanning
capability means that the MOTR,
through its 12 m x 6 m (39.4 ft x 19.7
ft) radome, will be able to track its
targets simultaneously in a 360°.
India's MOTR Space Tracking Radar Ready for Trials - Forecast International

Some additional specs I pulled from old saved articles & forum discussions;

50 cm x 50 cm object size at a slant
range of 1000 km
30 cm x 30 cm object size at a slant
range of 800 km

If my maths aren't all bungled up, 50 cm x 50 cm equals a surface area of 0.25sqm.

motr_2.jpg


motr.png

^^The MOTR uses a liquid-cooling setup, just like my Gaming PC :P

France to partner Isro in Mars mission
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France will partner India in its next Mars mission, which the Indian Space Research Organisation plans to launch in 2018.

French space agency, CNES on Monday signed a letter of intent with the ISRO for French participation in the next Mars mission. The details of the French proposal remains unknown.

A joint statement issued in the wake of the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande says, both leaders "welcomed the announcement of collaboration through the participation of the Centre National d’etudes spatiales (CNES) in future space and planetary exploration missions of the ISRO.”

India’s first Mars mission was a technology demonstrator. Its success led to the planning of Mars-2 mission for carrying out more substantive scientific experiments. As the slot in 2016 is out of question because of the non-availability of a suitable launch vehicle, the plan is to have the second mission in 2018 when the reliable PSLV could be used. A lander and a rover is being thought of in the second Indian Mars mission.

In addition to the Mars programme, India and France signed agreements for a future earth observation satellite and putting French Argos-4 data collection payload in the Oceansat-3, which may be launched in 2018 to provide continuity of data for already established services in the area of oceanographic applications. The earth observation project is to have a joint thermal infrared mission.

The leaders expressed confidence that these missions would contribute significantly to the monitoring of environment, weather, water resources and coastal zones and further strengthen the partnership between the two countries.India and France currently have two joint payloads Megha-Tropiques and SARAL for studying tropical atmosphere and sea surface.

Moreover,
Mangalyaan-2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
@Bad Guy Having fun on D -- F -- I mate? :partay:
Yes, most of these are my posts on D-F-I. :D

India's 1st solar mission to help address some problems in solar physics: ISRO
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Aditya - L1 will be launched on board launch vehicle PSLV-XL from the spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
BENGALURU: India's first mission to study the Sun, Aditya - L1, will help address some of the outstanding problems in solar physics, Indian Space Research Organisation said today.

Expected to be launched during 2019-20, it will enable a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic processes of the sun, it said.

The mission was first conceived as Aditya-1 mission as a 400 kg class satellite carrying one payload, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC).

It was planned for launch in an 800 km low earth orbit.

The mission has now been revised to 'Aditya-L1 mission' because satellite placed in the hallowed orbit around Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation or eclipses.

The satellite will be inserted in a halo orbit around the L1, which is 1.5 million km from Earth, ISRO said, adding that it would also carry additional six payloads for enhanced scientific scope and objectives.

Aditya - L1 will be launched on board launch vehicle PSLV-XL from the spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh had in a written response in the Lok Sabha said that the "approved cost" of the solar mission is Rs 378.53 crore.

ISRO said Aditya-1 was meant to observe only the solar corona, while Aditya-L1 with additional experiments can now provide observations of Sun's Photosphere (soft and hard X-ray), Chromosphere (UV) and corona (Visible and near infrared (NIR).

In addition, particle payloads will study particle flux emanating from the Sun and reaching the L1 orbit, and the magnetometer payload will measure the variation in magnetic field strength at the halo orbit around L1, it added.
 
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major milestone, ISRO today successfully hot tested 'Cryo CE 20' Engine for a flight duration of 640 seconds, with the space agency Chairman A S Kirankumar describing the feat as a "phenomenal achievement in the shortest time."

The test was completed successfully at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri today at 17.15 hrs, an ISRO press release said here.

This engine is identified for Cryogenic stage hot tests for GSLV MkIII, according to the ..

Read more at:
ISRO successfully conducts hot test of Cryo CE 20 engine - The Economic Times
 
Kineco Kaman's antenna put into orbit via ISRO satellite
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DHAA was manufactured by Kineco Kaman for ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Trivandrum and was integrated into IRNSS-1E. (Representative Image)
PANAJI: Kineco Kaman Composites India (KKCI) has become the first private company in India to manufacture a Dual Helix Antenna Array (DHAA) assembly, which was launched into the space aboard ISRO's fifth Indian Regional Navigation Satellite (IRNSS-1E) this month.

"The DHAA assembly is a very complex and high precision structure made using a combination of Carbon and Aramid Composites. The manufacturing of this DHAA requires hi-tech engineering and manufacturing competence, benchmarked with the best in the world," said Shekhar Sardessai, Chairman and MD, Kineco Kaman Composites-India Private Limited.

IRNSS is a cluster of seven satellites comprising three geo-stationary and four geo-synchronous satellites.

DHAA was manufactured by Kineco Kaman for ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Trivandrum and was integrated into IRNSS-1E, which was successfully put into the orbit by PSLV-C31 on January 2, he said.

"The IRNSS will be the Indian version of the global positioning system (GPS) and will be called Standard Positioning Service (SPS). Once all the satellites are placed in orbit, which is expected to be by March 2016, free SPS services will be available to all civilians," Sardessai said.

Kineco Kaman -- a joint venture of Kineco Group Goa, India and Kaman Aerospace Group-USA -- had earlier received a contract for the manufacture and supply of 10 sets of DHAA assemblies for VSSC Trivandrum in 2015.

Indian Regional Satellite Navigation System Update
IRNSS 1F will be launched on 10th March 2016
IRNSS 1G will be launched on 31st March 2016

Source:
<img src="/images/favicon_ps.ico" >ప్ర‌జాశ‌క్తి
One launch at every month- Frequency "12" dream is realizing.

NASA, India Join Hands for Astrobiology Mission

For the first time India is part of Spaceward Bound program, which funds expeditions to places with extreme climate conditions

Even as India prepares for a second mission to Mars, a team of scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Mars Society Australia and the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, will mount an expedition to Ladakh this August to study the similarities of certain parts of the region’s topography and microbial life to Martian surroundings.

India’s second mission to Mars — scheduled to be in 2020 — will involve collaboration with France and may include a lander or rover — remote controlled vehicles — which can ostensibly better analyse a planet’s surface.


“This is the first time that India is part of the Spaceward Bound programme,” said Siddharth Pandey, who is among the coordinators of the expedition “and we hope to have the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) closely involved.” The Spaceward Bound is a NASA project that educates future space explorers and funds expeditions to places with extreme climate conditions.
Before Ladakh, there have been expeditions to the deserts such in Atacama, Chile; Mojave, California; Arkaroola, Australia as well as the Arctic and Antarctica, organised since 2006.


Low-Cost Mars Mission
The success of India’s low-cost mission to Mars, in 2014, has led to heightened international interest in collaborating with India’s upcoming space missions. India now has an orbiter that's still circling Mars and taking pictures — with five instruments on board — in hopes of finding methane, carbon dioxide and the effect of solar winds on its surface. “Ladakh has been studied before but this time we’re going to be looking at some very specific experiments,” said Mr. Pandey — an engineer from India and who’s previously worked at the NASA. “We will be testing a rover that will collect samples and analyse some of the high altitude springs etc.”

According to the program’s website, Ladakh offers a “high UV (ultra-violet) exposed, dry ecosystem with Mars analogue topological features that tell us heaps about the origin and evolution of our planet’s topological features…”

Before its Mars Mission, the ISRO has Chandrayaan 2 planned to the moon, in 2017, that too hopes to set a lander on the surface of the moon.

The Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, which has expertise in studying ancient climate and life, will be coordinating the travel of scientists and researchers from several countries who will be part of the 10-day expedition.

Along with research experiments, the group would also meet school students and organise sessions on how astrobiology missions work, the evolution of life on earth as well as on how space missions work, Mr. Pandey added.
Source>>

ISRO conducts 1st satellite based warning system trial for railways
The first trial run for developing a satellite-based system to warn train drivers of unmanned railway crossings was conducted by ISRO scientists in Ahmedabad recently. Scientists at the city-based Space Applications Centre (SAC) are now in the process of commercially developing this system that will be fitted on 50 different trains across the country as a second part of the demonstration project.

Of around 30,000 level crossings of the Railways, as many as 11,000 are unmanned. “An estimated 7,000 people die every year at these unmanned crossings in the country. We have successfully conducted the first test-drive in Ahmedabad for developing a satellite-controlled warning system for the Indian Railways that will alert the train driver well in advance about an approaching unmanned level crossing. Simultaneously, it will also alert the road-users about the approaching train,” Tapan Misra, director of ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, said..
The demonstration project was carried out by a team of ISRO scientists and Western Railway officials in the first week of January. Under this project, a transmitter connected to GSAT-6 (a communication satellite) was mounted at Vastrapur and Sarkhej level crossings. Thereafter, the team boarded a train — fitted with a hooter that was in turn connected with a similar transmitter and a receiver — running between Gandhigram and Moraiya, near Changodar. All the trial runs were conducted in Ahmedabad.

“About 500 m before the level crossings, this hooter went on, warning the train driver about the approaching level crossing. The hooter got louder as the level crossing neared, and finally fell silent after the train passed it by. Similarly, the hooter attached to the transmitter mounted on the railway crossings alerted the road users about the approaching train. We had also used global positioning system and Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) during this demonstration. After its success, we will soon implement the second phase,” Misra said.

In the next phase of the demonstration project, SAC has selected six private companies for commercially developing the satellite-based transmitting and receiving system. “One of the six models/designs developed by these companies will be selected and will be demonstrated on 50 different trains running across the country. This demonstration will be done for a month,” he said, adding that the system will be integrated with IRNSS

According to scientists at SAC, the project to build warning systems will be taken forward to cover the entire railway network at a later stage. A GIS (Geographical Information Systems) mapping will be done of the entire route and a GIS map will be created. “This will help Indian Railways track each train on its network and also get timely alerts about derailment and accidents,” Misra added.

ISRO conducts 1st satellite based warning system trial for railways
The first trial run for developing a satellite-based system to warn train drivers of unmanned railway crossings was conducted by ISRO scientists in Ahmedabad recently. Scientists at the city-based Space Applications Centre (SAC) are now in the process of commercially developing this system that will be fitted on 50 different trains across the country as a second part of the demonstration project.

Of around 30,000 level crossings of the Railways, as many as 11,000 are unmanned. “An estimated 7,000 people die every year at these unmanned crossings in the country. We have successfully conducted the first test-drive in Ahmedabad for developing a satellite-controlled warning system for the Indian Railways that will alert the train driver well in advance about an approaching unmanned level crossing. Simultaneously, it will also alert the road-users about the approaching train,” Tapan Misra, director of ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, said..
The demonstration project was carried out by a team of ISRO scientists and Western Railway officials in the first week of January. Under this project, a transmitter connected to GSAT-6 (a communication satellite) was mounted at Vastrapur and Sarkhej level crossings. Thereafter, the team boarded a train — fitted with a hooter that was in turn connected with a similar transmitter and a receiver — running between Gandhigram and Moraiya, near Changodar. All the trial runs were conducted in Ahmedabad.

“About 500 m before the level crossings, this hooter went on, warning the train driver about the approaching level crossing. The hooter got louder as the level crossing neared, and finally fell silent after the train passed it by. Similarly, the hooter attached to the transmitter mounted on the railway crossings alerted the road users about the approaching train. We had also used global positioning system and Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) during this demonstration. After its success, we will soon implement the second phase,” Misra said.

In the next phase of the demonstration project, SAC has selected six private companies for commercially developing the satellite-based transmitting and receiving system. “One of the six models/designs developed by these companies will be selected and will be demonstrated on 50 different trains running across the country. This demonstration will be done for a month,” he said, adding that the system will be integrated with IRNSS

According to scientists at SAC, the project to build warning systems will be taken forward to cover the entire railway network at a later stage. A GIS (Geographical Information Systems) mapping will be done of the entire route and a GIS map will be created. “This will help Indian Railways track each train on its network and also get timely alerts about derailment and accidents,” Misra added.

IIST: Capacity Building for Indian Space Programme

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The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) is an autonomous body under DOS formed with the primary objective of creating world class academic Institution in the area of advanced Space Science and Technology education by seamlessly integrating education with research and generating high quality human resources to meet the quality human resource requirements of DOS/ISRO. IIST, a ‘Deemed to be University’ under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956 was established in 2007 at Thiruvananthapuram.



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View of IIST student hostels at the Valiamala campus

The Institute is the first of its kind in the country, to offer high quality and specialized academic programmes at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral levels in the emerging areas with special focus to space sciences, space technology and space applications and it also offers post doctoral positions to undertake research.. The Institute started functioning in an alternate campus adjacent to VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram and later moved over to its own new campus at Valiamala from August 15, 2010. The annual intake of the Institute is around 250 students.

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The old IIST Campus at ATF Area

Undergraduate Programmes

IIST offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in areas that are relevant to space studies. The institute was offering B.Tech in three branches – Aerospace Engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences. From academic year 2015 onwards, a Dual Degree (B. Tech + M.S / M. Tech) has been replaced the B. Tech (Physical Sciences). This five year Dual Degree Programme will lead to a B.Tech degree in Engineering Physics and Post Graduate Degree in any of the following specialisations - (i) M.S. (Astronomy & Astrophysics) (ii) M.S. (Earth System Science) (iii) M.S. (Solid State Physics) and (iv) M.Tech (Optical Engineering). There is no option to exit the dual degree after four years. The dual degree students will give their preference for the M.S./M.Tech. specialisations at the end of sixth semester. They will pursue one of the four specialisations based on their academic performance (CGPA) up to the sixth semester.

Admissions to all undergraduate programmes are based on the performance of the students in their class XII Board exams as well as on the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE–Main) conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi as well as the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) conducted by IITs, as per the guidelines set by IIST.

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The Observatory at IIST with an 8-inch Celestron telescope.

The major feature of the undergraduate program is the complete absence of any form of fees payable to the institute, rendering the education “fully assisted”, subject to the students securing a stipulated minimum academic requirement. As performance based financial assistance is provided by DOS to the B.Tech students of IIST, ISRO/DOS will have the first right to absorb them, subject to the human resource requirements of ISRO/DOS. Summary of the undergraduate programmes :

Programme

No. of Seats

Duration

B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering

60

4 years

B.Tech. in Avionics

60

4 years

Dual Degree (B.Tech. and M.S./M.Tech.)*

20

5 years


* On successful completion of the 5-year (10 semesters) students receive, a B.Tech. degree in Engineering Physics and a M.S./M.Tech. degree in one of the following four streams :

• M.S. in Astronomy and Astrophysics

• M.S. in Earth System Science

• M.S. in Solid State Physics

•M.Tech. in Optical Engineering

138 undergraduate students were admitted for the academic year 2015-2016 in the above-mentioned three branches.

M.Tech./MS Programme

IIST offers postgraduate programmes in fourteen areas of space science and engineering. These M.Tech and M.S programmes are open to public as well as scientists / engineers of DOS / ISRO. The academic programmes have been formulated to strengthen the fundamentals, experience the realities through practical work, and enhance the knowledge and understanding in the areas of interest. Also, the programmes so envisaged ensures adequate exposure in the emerging fields which will lead to experience knowledge synthesis.

Applications for M.Tech./MS programmes are screened based on GATE score and the admission is through test and interview. The total number of seats in each programme is ten, out of which six seats are reserved for open merit candidates and the remaining four for DOS/ISRO employees.

90 postgraduate students were admitted for the academic year 2015-2016.

ESTABLISHMENT OF DR. SATISH DHAWAN ENDOWED FELLOWSHIP AT GRADUATE AEROSPACE LABORATORIES OF THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (GALCIT)

The Department of Space / Indian Space Research Organisation has established an endowed fellowship at the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology (GALCIT), California, USA. This fellowship is established in the honor of Dr. Satish Dhawan, who was the former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) during its formative period 1972-1984.

The fellowship provides an excellent opportunity to the top ranking graduating student from Aerospace Department of IIST, to be sponsored by the Department of Space, to pursue Masters in Space Engineering at California Institute of Technology (Caltech). On completion of the course and award of degree by Caltech, the student will pursue career in Space at ISRO.

Doctoral Programmes

The institute recognizes the relevance of research. IIST encourages all its faculty members to guide and supervise young scholars for the PhD programme as well as for Post-Doctoral programmes. It also supports the research needs of faculty members by funding research projects directly. The institute provides for the publication charges of peer reviewed journal papers that are published by faculty, research scholars and students of the institute.

Admission for Ph.D. programme is based on test and interview and is restricted to those candidates who qualified JRF-NET/GATE or equivalent exams. The Institute has the provision to allow ISRO/DOS Scientists/Engineers to join the Ph.D. Programme.

26 Research Scholars were admitted for the academic year 2015-2016.

Research in Departments

Presently, the Institute has the faculty strength of 93 spread over seven departments. Faculty members from various departments have initiated various research projects. Collaborative research works with various ISRO centres are also undertaken by faculty. The faculty members have to their credit publications in books and journals of both national and international repute; they have also presented papers and lectures in outside universities/academic institutions.

One of the major recent developments in the institute is setting up of an “Advanced Space Technology Development Cell” (ASTDC). ASTDC was created in September 2015 as a new technology cell in IIST to develop advanced technologies required by the various centres in ISRO for their current and future projects. In addition, ASTDC is also responsible for interacting with Indian and foreign universities for the design and development of experimental payloads and nano-satellites.

Campus

The campus is located at Valiamala, about 25 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city, on the way to the famous hill resort of Ponmudi. The institute provides full-fledged infrastructure of international standards to develop an excellent academic and research atmosphere. Modern environment friendly buildings of unique architecture merge well with the flora and fauna of the surroundings. The academic activities spread across four blocks – Aerospace, Physical Sciences, Avionics and Interdisciplinary. Of these the first two are fully functional and host all the seven departments. The Academic blocks are equipped with spacious lecture halls and well-designed research and curriculum laboratories. The Academic blocks also house the offices of the faculty members and research scholars. An imposing Library building is centrally located. IIST also has an Astronomical Observatory situated on the rooftop of the Physical Sciences building.

IIST is planned to be a fully residential campus with all facilities. Presently, the residential wing for the students is complete. The faculty and staff residential campus along with the stadium and sports complexes are in the pipeline. The campus has 11 hostels and two mess halls for the students. There is a Medical Centre with qualified doctors and nurses which operates 24 x 7. An ambulance is available in the campus for emergencies. Tie up with premier hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram ensures that all students are provided excellent medical attention when required.

The institute is committed to excellence in teaching, learning and research. IIST fosters state-of-the-art research and development in space studies and provides a think-tank to explore new directions for the Indian space programme.

For further information please visit: www.iist.ac.in






Story of the Week - Archive
Feb 02, 2016 : IIST: Capacity Building for Indian Space Programme
Jan 26, 2016 : Aditya - L1 First Indian mission to study the Sun
Jan 18, 2016 : ASTROSAT Completes 100 days in Orbit
Jan 11, 2016 : Geo-spatial Technology for Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan
Jan 05, 2016 : ISRO Completes 50 Launches from Sriharikota
Dec 29, 2015 : Mount Abu InfraRed Observatory (MIRO) : Unveiling the Universe
Dec 21, 2015 : National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM) services in tackling Disasters

House Panel for 50% Hike in ISRO’s Budget

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests plans to recommend to the Centre a 50 per cent raise in the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) annual budget.

Ashwani Kumar, Chairman of the committee, addressing reporters said ISRO’s current budget is ₹5,800 crore and non-Plan allocation is ₹1,400 crore. Justifying the hike, Ashwani Kumar said it will help ISRO enhance its manpower, especially high-tech scientific manpower which help in launching more satellites. “An organisation like ISRO should not be starved of funds,” he added. “We have been informed about the need for enhancing manpower, particularly the scientific manpower of ISRO, the lack of which was disabling the organisation to optimise its potential.”

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle MK III at the Launch Pad


AS Kiran Kumar, ISRO Chairman said the process of hiring more scientists was being initiated. This depends on the Centre’s approval. “We need manpower for producing various satellites and also bolster our R&D set up to develop new generation satellite and launch vehicles,” he said.

Ashwani Kumar said, “The country needs to give a lot more attention to R&D and develop more satellites and launch them. There is no dearth of funds for supporting scientific establishments like ISRO which has made the country proud by putting it on the global map and among the exclusive club of nations through its huge achievements in space technology.”

He further said the sixth and seventh satellites of the Indian Navigational Satellite System would be launched by March end and that completes the constellation of seven satellites.
Source>>

New ISRO Satellite to Predict Cyclones Being Built at 60% the Actual Cost, in One Third of the Time
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is developing a new weather-forecasting satellite to predict the beginning of cyclones in oceans. About 300 scientists are working on the satellite named ScatSat-1, at the Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad.

The best thing about this 301 kg satellite is that it is being built at 60% of the actual cost, and in one-third of the estimated time.

About 40% of satellite is made by recycling the leftover equipment from previous satellite missions. It will be launched in July 2016 and has a mission life of five years.
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Picture for representation only. Source: ISRO
ScatSat-1 will replace OceanSat-2, which was launched in 2009 and was known for its accurate predictions of cyclones like Hudhud and Phailin. OceanSat-2 stopped functioning in Feb 2014. Currently, ISRO is getting most of the weather information from INSAT-3D satellite.
“Normally, it takes about three years to
build a satellite of this class from
scratch. However, as we have sourced
40% of the parts used in ScatSat-1 from
spares of previous missions, we will
complete it in a year’s time,” Tapan
Misra, director of the SAC, told The Indian Express
He added that at the time of launch, ScatSat-1 will be a piggy ride with another satellite, and this will help save costs even further.

A scatterometer in the satellite will help predict formation of cyclones in the seas. Such predictions help in timely evacuation and minimise human casualties. A scatterometer is a microwave radar sensor. It measures the scattering effect produced while scanning the surface of the Earth from an aircraft or a satellite. It will measure the direction and speed of winds over the seas and oceans. The satellite has been designed to withstand multiple system failures, unlike the last one.

It is a polar orbiting satellite that will take two days to cover the globe. The data will be used by NASA, European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as well.

SAC is one of the major centres of ISRO and it deals with disciplines like design and development of payloads, societal applications, capacity building and space sciences, etc.

New ISRO Satellite to Predict Cyclones Being Built at 60% the Actual Cost, in One Third of the Time
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is developing a new weather-forecasting satellite to predict the beginning of cyclones in oceans. About 300 scientists are working on the satellite named ScatSat-1, at the Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad.

The best thing about this 301 kg satellite is that it is being built at 60% of the actual cost, and in one-third of the estimated time.

About 40% of satellite is made by recycling the leftover equipment from previous satellite missions. It will be launched in July 2016 and has a mission life of five years.
isrosat.jpg


Picture for representation only. Source: ISRO
ScatSat-1 will replace OceanSat-2, which was launched in 2009 and was known for its accurate predictions of cyclones like Hudhud and Phailin. OceanSat-2 stopped functioning in Feb 2014. Currently, ISRO is getting most of the weather information from INSAT-3D satellite.
“Normally, it takes about three years to
build a satellite of this class from
scratch. However, as we have sourced
40% of the parts used in ScatSat-1 from
spares of previous missions, we will
complete it in a year’s time,” Tapan
Misra, director of the SAC, told The Indian Express
He added that at the time of launch, ScatSat-1 will be a piggy ride with another satellite, and this will help save costs even further.

A scatterometer in the satellite will help predict formation of cyclones in the seas. Such predictions help in timely evacuation and minimise human casualties. A scatterometer is a microwave radar sensor. It measures the scattering effect produced while scanning the surface of the Earth from an aircraft or a satellite. It will measure the direction and speed of winds over the seas and oceans. The satellite has been designed to withstand multiple system failures, unlike the last one.

It is a polar orbiting satellite that will take two days to cover the globe. The data will be used by NASA, European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as well.

SAC is one of the major centres of ISRO and it deals with disciplines like design and development of payloads, societal applications, capacity building and space sciences, etc.
 
UAE, Isro to ink deal for launching first Arab Mars mission
New Delhi, Feb 11, 2016, DHNS:

388729_original.jpg


ISRO will be signing a deal on Thursday with its counterpart in the United Arab Emirates to launch Arab world’s first ever mission to Mars. The MoU between ISRO and UAE space agency is among several that would be signed during the visit of Emirates’ de-facto ruler and crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to New Delhi.

The countries will also ink an agreement to set up UAE-India Infrastructure Investment Fund aiming to boost UAE’s investment in India’s infrastructure sector up to $75 billion.

The fund would focus on railways, ports, roads, airports, industrial corridors and parks, officials told Deccan Herald Wednesday.

Sheikh Mohammed, also the Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday. He will hold a private meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday morning and the two leaders will also lead their country’s respective delegations in the evening. The Arab leader will also meet President Pranab Mukherjee.

In July 2014, The UAE announced its decision to launch Arab world’s first ever satellite to Mars in July 2020.

UAE, Isro to ink deal for launching first Arab Mars mission

ISRO trying to put electric propelling system for satellites: Sivan
50952081.cms

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre director Dr K. Sivan said that efforts are on to put electric propelling system for satellites to enable them to carry more payload.
HYDERABAD: Efforts are on to put electric propelling system for satellites to enable them to carry more payload,Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre director Dr K. Sivan said here today.

"The efforts will help in cutting down fuel required for maneuvering the satellites in the orbit and more payload can be taken," Sivan said at the 10th International High Energy Material conference and Exhibits (HEMCE 2016) here.

He said GSLV Mark III will be launched in December this year.

The ISRO scientist said efforts will be made to launch 'Chandrayan 2', the country's second lunar exploration mission after 'Chandrayaan-1', with a rover as soon as possible.

On manned space flight, Sivan said they are coming up with a project called "Abbot Machine".

Earlier, Dr.K.P.S. Murthy, Director, High Energy Materials Research Lab (HEMRL), spoke about the development of high explosive detective technology which is being developed for concealed explosives by their laboratory.

Observing that high energy material technology is a highly-guarded technology, Dr. Satish Kumar, Director General, Missiles and Strategic Systems,DRDO, said, "scientists and technologists are moving forward and advancing towards total self-reliance in this critical area".

He said the high energy materials is a specialised field that "partly determines the status of the nation".

"For a given propellant energy level, there is a need to optimise the design to maximise the overall performance and minimise the losses in the futuristic aerospace mission," the Director General said.

He said the modular design and safer manufacturing techniques in high energy materials are the need of the day.

The conference was organised by the Hyderabad Chapter of the High Energy Material Society of India in association with the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and Advanced Systems Laboratory.


"MoU between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency on Cooperation in the Exploration and use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes.

The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation in space science, technology and applications including remote sensing; satellite communication and satellite based navigation.
"

List of Agreements and MOUs exchanged during the State Visit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India

Link currently appears broken, but thanks to Ohsin at the NASA Spaceflight Forum for saving the text.

++

So in theory, it appears the UAE/GCC may be looking to make use of IRNSS as an alternative to the US GPS services. The currently-envisaged constellation of 7 satellites already covers the UAE and it's immediate neighbourhood as well as about half of Saudi Arabia can get accurate services. Now all we need to do is build up the ground infrastructure & control/receiving stations for IRNSS in UAE.

But if we want to provide navigation services for rest of GCC, we will have to expand the effective coverage envelope. But if the GCC wants it, they will happily fund all of it. So no problem there. What will be interesting to see is if the services rendered will be the civilian-grade signals or the more sophisticated military-grade signals with greater accuracy.

That said, most of Iran is already covered so that's another potential future client.

IRNSS_Auto0.jpeg


Plus, it seems feasible that we provide an IRS-class remote-sensing capability for GCC states. They might need it especially now that they're worried about diversifying their economic & energy-related activities.

More Customers for IRNSS :D
"MoU between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency on Cooperation in the Exploration and use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes.

The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation in space science, technology and applications including remote sensing; satellite communication and satellite based navigation.
"

List of Agreements and MOUs exchanged during the State Visit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India

Link currently appears broken, but thanks to Ohsin at the NASA Spaceflight Forum for saving the text.

++

So in theory, it appears the UAE/GCC may be looking to make use of IRNSS as an alternative to the US GPS services. The currently-envisaged constellation of 7 satellites already covers the UAE and it's immediate neighbourhood as well as about half of Saudi Arabia can get accurate services. Now all we need to do is build up the ground infrastructure & control/receiving stations for IRNSS in UAE.

But if we want to provide navigation services for rest of GCC, we will have to expand the effective coverage envelope. But if the GCC wants it, they will happily fund all of it. So no problem there. What will be interesting to see is if the services rendered will be the civilian-grade signals or the more sophisticated military-grade signals with greater accuracy.

That said, most of Iran is already covered so that's another potential future client.

IRNSS_Auto0.jpeg


Plus, it seems feasible that we provide an IRS-class remote-sensing capability for GCC states. They might need it especially now that they're worried about diversifying their economic & energy-related activities.

SAC to have giant `clean room' for satellites
Paul John | TNN | Feb 13, 2016, 05.36 AM IST

RISAT_Auto29.jpeg



AHMEDABAD: The Space Application Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will soon have a unique establishment in the city. One of the most sophisticated and largest `clean room' facilities in the country for the assembly, integration and testing of communication, navigation and earth observation satellites is being built on the Isro campus spread over 22,270 square feet in Bopal. The clean room will be housed in a 21-metre high building with enough space for the simultaneous assembly and integration of as many as 10 communication satellites.

A large `clean room' facility had become necessary because of the sharp rise in the number of payloads for various satellites being developed at various ISRO centres.

IRNSS-1B%20satellite%20in%20clean%20room_web.jpg


"Earlier, four to five communication payloads were developed in a year. However, this year eight and the next year 12 communication satellites will be built. A larger facility is needed for so many satellites," said SAC director Tapan Misra. Clean room is a place of "10,000 class"-i.e., sterility here is maintained at 10,000 particles or less in one cubic feet column of air. Even in highly sanitized places like medical laboratories and operation theatres, sterility is at 1 lakh particles.

Experts say dust is an enemy of electronic equipment, especially of delicate and precise parts used in space technology.

"While developing sensitive electronic instrumentation, tiny specks of dust can be a major source for contamination," said Misra.

"Dust can degrade electronic instruments when exposed to humidity . A clean room maintains a constant temperature and humidity, eliminates dust, and protects the satellite during its development, construction and testing," the SAC director said.

Geo-Stationary+Satellite+GSAT-7+satellite+at+French+Guyana,+launched+by+Ariane+5++India+(1).jpg



Another interesting aspect of a clean room is that even its floor is specially built to prevent production of static electricity as a discharge of static electricity can damage instruments on satellites.

Apart from the clean room, SAC will also set up a special vendors' complex on the Bopal campus. It plans to give space to vendors fabricating components or special electronic equipment for specific projects. "The components and the technology being developed for various space programmes cost more than fabrication. This is why we want to give our vendors a secure space where they can even interact with our scientists anytime. We will provide them assistance by giving them space for up to a year. They can stay here and work," said Misra.

SAC to have giant `clean room' for satellites - Times of India

ISRO to use electric propulsion system on satellites in two years
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to use electric propulsion system on satellites for station keeping and orbital manoeuvre in two years.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the two-day 10th International High Energy Materials Conference and Exhibition here on Thursday, Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) K. Sivan said besides VSSC, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) and ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) were working on developing electric propulsion system for use on satellites.

“In two years, we may be able to achieve it,” he said.

He said the cryogenic engine for GSLV Mark-III will be undergoing stage-level test soon and the target to achieve flight test is December this year.

Regarding Chandrayaan-II, he said the objective was to land a rover on the moon and carry out in-situ experiments. ISRO was also developing various technologies required for a manned mission, which was yet to be approved by the government.

Director of High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, a DRDO facility, K.P.S. Murthy said their lab was developing a table-mounted explosive detection kit, which could be used for detecting explosives, including deeply concealed ones. He said the Advanced Centre of Research in high Energy Materials, University of Hyderabad, was collaborating in the project. The kit could be used in airports and other places.

Earlier addressing the conference, Dr. Satish Kumar, Director-General (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said rapid changes were taking place in warfare technology and called upon researchers to work on developing insensitive munitions.

Plan to largely privatize PSLV operations by 2020: ISRO Chief
Srinivas.Laxman@timesgroup.com

37307398.cms


MUMBAI
: In a revolutionary change in India's space scenario, the operation of ISRO's workhorse - the four-stage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will be largely privatized in four years, ISRO Chairman AS Kiran Kumar has told TOI.

The ISRO chief said that once the plan materializes, the integration & launch of the rocket will be handled by an industrial consortium through the commercial arm of ISRO, Antrix Corporation. "This will be discussed with industry leaders at the Make in India week. Tentatively, we plan to implement it in 2020", he said.

He said that the advantage of largely privatizing the PSLV operations is to boost capacity and consequentially increase the rate of launches from 12 to 18 annually. If the plan takes off, it will be akin to the US's United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and the Boeing Company formed in 2006, to provide cost-efficient access to space for US missions.

The PSLV, first launched in September 1993, has notched up 33 missions to date. Except for one failure during it's maiden launch in 1993, the rest were successful, earning it recognition as one of the world's most successful rockets.

India's Lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1 on October 22, 2008 and the first flight to Mars on November 5, 2014 were launched by the PSLV.

Kumar said that the SAARC satellite, first mooted by PM Narendra Modi during the 18th SAARC summit held in Nepal in 2014, is slated for launch provisionally between the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017. "So far, only Sri Lanka has formally agreed to participate in the project and the rest have agreed in principle. We will still launch and gradually increase its coverage as the remaining members join formally", he said.

Source: Times of India paper, 15 Feb 2016.

Heard that guys? :woot::woot::woot::woot:
Launch akin(similar) to ULA.
Let's see we could capitalize space like our country or not. :enjoy:
 
Isro orbiter to scan India's air for pollutants
51018475.cms

The new satellite will monitor the ambient air quality of major Indian cities.
AHMEDABAD: The Space Applications Centre (SAC) of Isro and Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) of University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies are collaborating on developing the 'Next Generation Earth Monitoring and Observation and Aerosol Monitoring' (NEMO-AM) satellite. This is among Isro's most important high-performance nano-satellite missions for the country.

The nano-satellite will monitor suspended particles and aerosols that have made the air of major Indian cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Amritsar and Allahabad among the most polluted in the world.


The tiny particles and aerosols in the exhaust of vehicles, emissions from industrial chimneys and even dust particles from construction work fill the air we breathe. These aerosols and particulate matter of size 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) enter our lungs and restrict the free flow of air.


SAC is providing the necessary software for instruments that are to be made in Canada. The nano-satellite, which will be of 2 x 2 x 1 feet dimension and weigh 15 kg, will be launched 500 km above the earth.

SAC director Tapan Misra said the NEMO mission is designed to cover, each day, up to 50,000 square kilometer area of the country's 32.87 lakh sq km.

"The NEMO-AM will be integrated in July-August next year at SAC in the presence of a team from Canada SFL.The satellite will be tested and launched in the subsequent month," said Misra.

The NEMO-AM satellite with its powerful imaging sensor analyses the sunlight reflected from the earth's surface. The NEMO-AM satellite with its powerful imaging sensor analyses the sunlight reflected from the earth's surface This light, which passes through the earth's atmo sphere before reaching NEMO will be analyzed by the satellite from different angles to deter mine the nature of suspended particles and aerosol concentration in the ambient air of India cities.

"The data will be handy for estimating emissions from vehicles, tracking pollutants plumes, and supporting activities to forecast air quality in ci ties and towns. New policies can be framed around this data," said a senior Isro official.

Even cities that do not have specialized instruments in stalled in their streets to mea sure suspended particles, can get an idea of the quality of ambient air with a fair degree of accuracy . NEMO's data can be of great help in decision-making and environmental management activities of both the public and private sectors in a city or town or industrial area.
I have researched about some of reconnaissance satellites of India.

Geostationary Earth Orbit High Resolution Imager( thanks to our Chinese Friend @shiphone to inform us), have the possible launch date in mid 2017.
Yet CCI satellite will be launched in 2020.

NASA invites ISRO to US for possible collaboration
By PTI - 17 Feb 2016

mars-one-colony-2025.jpg


As American space agency NASA looks forward to send astronauts to Mars, it has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for a possible international collaboration. Several space agencies of different countries are also expected to attend the meeting in Washington next month.

"We are looking to send astronauts to Mars. In order to do that, you need certain robotic missions to begin with. Early next month there will be a meeting in Washington. The ISRO has also been invited to the meeting to discuss the future collaborations for the mission to Mars. We think it will be more of an international consortium."

"There are potential opportunities to collaborate in future" said Jakob van Zyl, Associate Director, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

The NASA scientist was delivering a lecture on its Mars mission and it's findings on the Red Planet on the American Center here.

There is also a ISRO-NASA Mars Working Group in place, which has been looking into opportunities for enhanced cooperation in Mars exploration including potential coordinated observations and analysis between ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) and NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN).

The UAE has also signed a cooperation agreement with ISRO for it's Mars mission, the first to be undertaken by any Gulf nation.

NASA invites ISRO to US for possible collaboration - The Economic Times

++

My view:
It seems ISRO has rightfully earned it's place as one of the leading Mars exploration agencies. The recent initiatives by NASA to reach out to ISRO for cooperation in future Mars missions, the agreement with UAE to launch their mission (maybe even provide some input) and MoUs with French CNES for future Mars/Venus missions are all indicative of this.

Just wait till 2018 when our 2nd mission to Mars, this time with a lander (and potentially a rover) sets foot on the Red Planet. The MoU with France for some work-sharing was an excellent decision.

Make in India: ISRO lures industry into Space with technology promise, brand benefit
By Megha Mandavia ET Bureau | 17 Feb, 2016

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MUMBAI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) wants more private companies to make space and satellite components for the government-run enterprise by assisting them with technology transfer and required infrastructure in a bid to help incubate a space industry in India.

Tapan Mishra, director at Space Applications Centre (SAC) at ISRO said the industry could expect about 20 per cent of its annual budget in business opportunity. ISRO has has received about Rs 6000 crore this financial year from the government, which is expected to go up to Rs 8900 crore in the upcoming budget for next year.

"This is not a large number but we are training people and sharing technology. You will also be able to monetize the reputation of working with us with the industry," said Mishra at 'Make in India' week on Wednesday.

Scientific Secretary at ISRO YVN Krishna Murthy said the applications of the technology private industry will learn from them is "mind boggling", pointing at a bigger business opportunity worldwide.

Space technology, according to them with them, can be used in commercial aerospace, defence, transportation, agriculture, metallurgy, space design and so on. Global space industry is as big as $300 billion, according to industry estimates.

"It is a huge thing to be associated with a space programme. You get to work with the best in the world," said Dhiraj Mathur, executive director at global consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers.

"Volumes will not be high and budgets will always be constrained but once your capability improves to meet the stringent standards of a space programme you are put on a launch pad to do business with civilian aerospace and defence companies in India and abroad," he added.

Currently private participation is quite small in ISRO as Indian companies have not been equipped enough in terms of technology and talent to make space components. ISRO expects private companies to make satellite components, space radars, rocket engines, batteries, space electrical components, optical camera components and so on in the coming years.

ISRO's commercial arm Antrix Corp provides space products and technical consultancy services to Indian and international customers worldwide. It launches satellites for international companies at competitive prices.

Make in India: ISRO lures industry into space with technology promise, brand benefit - The Economic Times

ISRO to double missions in next 5 years to 12

Wed, 17 Feb 2016-10:50pm , Mumbai , PTI
Having launched 55 missions in space in the last five years, the national space agency ISRO is looking at doubling the number of missions in the next five years to an average of 12.

"We have already launched 55 missions during past five years and we are looking at doubling it during the next five years to 12 launches per annum. The new launches will be under both categories, including satellites and launch vehicles," ISRO secretary (science) YVN Krishna Murthy told PTI on the sidelines of Make In India Week in Mumbai on Wednesday.

"We've already launched two missions this year and two more will be launched next month," he added.

The agency is all set to launch the Chandrayan-II in 2017-18, he said.

"The new Lunar Mission will be different from the earlier one," he said, adding "unlike Chandrayan-I which was having only Orbiter and Probe, Chandrayan-II will be having Lander and Rover too, and the Rover will move on the samples and transmit the data to Earth".

More than 500 industries work with ISRO, he said, adding more than the direct business from ISRO, the partners benefit from monetising their association with the organisation.

The ISRO Satellite Centre has built over 70 satellites in the last 41 years and there is a huge demand for small launchers with carrying capacity of 500 kg.

Talking about the ISRO's annual budget, he said it is likely to be around $1.1 billion this year, up from $0.9 billion last fiscal.

India plans to launch 60 space missions
New Delhi - India is planning to launch at least 12 space missions every year for the next five years, a top official of the state-owned space agency has reportedly said.

“We have already launched 55 missions during the past five years and we are looking at 12 launches per annum in the next five years,” Y.V.N. Krishna Murthy of Indian Space Research Organisation said. Murthy, who is Secretary (science) of the space agency, told the media Wednesday on the sidelines of the Make in India week celebrations in Mumbai.

1930723750.jpg

A handout photograph released by the Indian Space Research Organisation shows the PSLV-C25 rocket carrying the Mars Orbiter Spacecraft blasting off. File photo: AFP Photo/ISR. Credit: AFP
“We have already launched two missions this year and two more will be launched next month, and the space agency's budget will be around 1.1 billion US dollars this year,” he said.

According to the space official, the next lunar mission, Chandrayan-II, will be launched in 2017-18 and this mission will be different from the earlier one. “Unlike Chandrayan-I which was having only Orbiter and Probe, Chandrayan-II will be having Lander and Rover too, and the Rover will move on the samples and transmit the data to Earth,” he added.

Xinhua
 

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