Indian Space Capabilities

[gslv mk3]

many subsystems have been redesigned ,so I hope this will be a success..looks superb too

 

[SOHEIL]

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[SOHEIL]

 

[IND151]

India to go alone with Chandrayaan 2 | idrw.org

 

[Daedalus]

Human space flight mission off ISRO priority list

India's proposed human spaceflight programme that generated considerable excitement in the second half of the last decade is off the priority list of ISRO, with the mission being ruled out before 2017.

The ambitious venture that could have electrified the entire space programme and given New Delhi a vantage position as a human space transportation provider after Russia and China does not figure in the Space Department's 12th plan (2012-2017).

The US is out of business with decommissioning of its space shuttle programme. Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation K Radhakrishnan says "very good progress" has been made in terms of developing critical technologies for the mission (which has been on the drawing board since 2002) but refuses to commit a time-frame for the launch. "We have not declared it as a programme. We must have a reliable, man-rated vehicle (GSLV).

oth are important", Radhakrishnan, also Secretary in the Department of Space and Chairman of Space Commission, told PTI here. "We are not going to see the human spaceflight as a programme in the 12th plan. We will see may be later. It has to be seen after that".

"Even for you to talk about it, you have to have certain new technologies which are involved in the human space flight programme. That’s what we are addressing". The programme's objective is to undertake a mission to carry a crew of two or three members to 300 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and return them safely to a predefined destination on Earth.

Currently, the pre-project activities to study technical and managerial issues related to the mission are progressing with a focus on development of critical technologies for sub-systems such as Crew Module (CM), Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) and Crew Escape System.

In 2006, ISRO organised a meeting to discuss the issues related to the mission, which was attended by about 80 senior scientists from across the country.

The concept for the mission included development of an autonomous orbital vehicle which could be launched by India's Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV-Mk II or GSLV-Mk III. ISRO has maturity in many technologies required for the mission but new developments are required in life support systems, improved reliability and safety and crew escape system, among others.

While some of the facilities required are available in the country and could be used with augmentation, a few had to be established afresh. The preliminary estimated cost at the time for the mission was Rs 10,000 crore, spread over a period of eight years, and the scientists were unanimous in suggesting the time is appropriate for India to undertake such a venture.

Radhakrishnan said good progress has been made on development of critical technologies for the programme, including in ECLSS, crew module, crew escape system and flight suite.

"We have done some good tests on the ground on the rocket motors required for the crew escape system. We are going to have pad abort test soon in Sriharikota", he said.

He rejected suggestions that the proposed mission is losing momentum, arguing it boils down to priorities, adding the focus now is to first have the operational rocket. "Today, it's about GSLV and our ability to put larger communication satellites from India. Our priority is cryogenic engine".

"We are not losing momentum.When you decide on having the programme, you will be in a good condition to start. You don't start from zero", he said.

Radhakrishnan pointed out when the scientists had given the go-ahead for the mission in 2006, ISRO had undertaken two good flights of GSLV but the rocket suffered failures twice in 2010, one with indigenous cryogenic engine and another with the imported Russian one. "Today, we don't have a vehicle (rocket)".

Incidentally, ISRO has proposed to flight-test GSLV with indigenous cryogenic engine for the first time in more than three years on August 19 from the spaceport of Sriharikota. ISRO also plans to undertake the Mars mission later this year.

Human space flight mission off ISRO priority list - India - DNA

 

[SHAHED]

Human space flight mission off ISRO priority list

Really sad

 

[Gessler]

Really sad

Yes, but I think there are presently more important missions to be done first.

Good thing is that eventhough the actual mission is off priority list right now, development of the
needed technology is well underway - some latest news -

Flight Suit for India's manned space mission

Preparations underway to safely propel the second Indian into outer Space, the first from within the country.

The forthcoming flight of the Indian Space Research Organisation's [ISRO] Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle [GSLV] this August 19, using an indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage [CUS] engine, brings our attention, be it somewhat tangentially, to yet another one of its landmark goals - its Human Spaceflight programme. Upon validation of the GSLV's performance parameters, and more importantly reliability, ISRO would be in a position to carry out the task of human rating the Launch Vehicle [LV]. Although initially planned to carry it out with the current configuration of the GSLV, Mark II, delays in the programme, have lead some to speculate that the task may now be carried out with the more advanced Mark III variant, expected to make its maiden flight in 2014.

Highly complex that unmanned missions already are, manned missions, understandably, pose an altogether new set of more imposing challenges, primarily that involving ensuring safe & comfortable operating conditions for the human space farers.

This would require the myriad of ISRO's laboratories, involved in the manned programme, to undertake numerous projects to develop a number of completely new systems & technologies that weren't remotely required in any of its previous mission of the past 50 odd years of its marking India's presence in Space.

One such critical piece of system, unique only to manned Space mission is the Flight Suit for Indian Vyomnauts [Cosmonauts/Astronauts] would need to wear during their mission. Primarily to be worn during the lift-off & re-entry phases. This suit would be especially life-saving in case of any emergency, caused by failure of the Spacecraft's Life Support System [LSS], by cocooning the Vyomnaut in a pressurised micro-environment within which life can be sustained, with additional ability to communicate with the outside. This flight suite, currently under development, is believed to be 4 layered, each with specific purpose,

Layer 1 [innermost] - ensuring containment of the supplied oxygen within the suit, preventing it from leaking out.
Layer 2 - providing structural support to the innermost layer
Layer 3 - thermal insulation
Layer 4 [outermost] - provide physical protection, including flame retardant

In addition, work is also underway to develop a liquid-cooled garment to be worn underneath the flight suit which would dissipate the generated body heat & remove sweat. This three-layered garment would function by passing water through pipes sandwiched between two layers. When worn under normal circumstances, the it would simply allow the passage of air & environmental control as carried out by the Craft's LSS. In the the event of a catastrophe, it would function as the aforementioned cocoon, sealing in the human from the outside hazards.

Equally critical it is to ensure that the human operator, even when wearing the suit in the pressurised state, is able to move his/her arms & limbs in a manner that allows him/her to perform the tasks expected. The expected limitation in vision & mobility can be judged from the fact that the suit is to be equipped with a mirror attached around the wrist region to ensure visibility of the front portion of the suit, by looking into the mirror.

Naturally, such suits would require ensuring fool-proof, leak-resistant fabrics & air-tight sealing between itself & outer attachments like pressure gauges & regulator, glove joints, helmet visors etc.

The task of ensuring sealing is made even more difficult considering that one would move around wearing the suit. Based on the requirements drawn up, two prototype flight suits have initially been put together, that are being put through a battery of tests that include testing degree of freedom when the suit is pressurized, electrical connectivity for attachments like communication & crew health monitoring equipment, checking continuity of the cooling water channels &, highly critical, checking the pressurised suit for possible leaks in vacuum conditions. It is to be expected for the suit to undergo further refinement, based on the results of these tests.

It could be argued that a well-designed flight suit is one of those technologies that would lend the greatest confidence to ISRO & its Astronauts in undertaking the country's maiden Manned Space mission from within is borders - a red-letter day, it promises to be.

Godspeed

Flight Suit For India's Manned Space Mission - AA Me, IN

 

[Echo_419]

Really sad

Well sad but i think we need to focus more on Un manned space programs
& later join Russia or China in manned exploration

 

[SR-91]

someone on this forum has a pic of the spacesuit,can u plz share it with your buddies here.

 

[AMCA]

someone on this forum has a pic of the spacesuit,can u plz share it with your buddies here.

Here you go buddy

 

[BlueDot_in_Space]

GSLV D5 Integration

The Coolest Hot Engine

 

[Dillinger]

@S-DUCT @Hyperion @arp2041 @Abingdonboy @Gessler @kurup

A detailed look into the GSLV MK.2:-

http://isro.org/gslv-d5/pdf/brochure.pdf

 

[Gessler]

Inside assembling building...

Being rolled out of assembling building...

Rolled onto the launching area from the building...

 

[SHAHED]

Live broadcasting needed !

 

[Gessler]

Live broadcasting needed !

Be sure to keep a tab on ISRO's official website - they are likely to show it live.

Some news channel's websites will also be streaming live feed of the launch.