Posted on March 10, 2010, at 1:58 pm .
GSLV Mark III engine test (Photo: ISRO)
ISRO PROGRAM UPDATE
Indian Space Research Organisation conducted the static test of its liquid core stage (L110) of GSLV Mk III launch vehicle, for 150 seconds at its Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) test facility at Mahendragiri at 16:00 hrs yesterday (March 5, 2010).
While the test was originally targeted for 200 seconds it was stopped at 150 seconds since a deviation in one of the parameters was observed. About 500 important parameters were monitored during the static test. The next static test for 200 seconds will be conducted after analysis of this data.
GSLV Mk III launch vehicle is being developed for launching 4 tonne class of satellites in Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Measuring 17 meters in length and 4 meters in diameter, L110 is an earth storable liquid propellant stage with propellant loading of 110 tonnes. L110 stage uses two high-pressure Vikas engines in a clustered configuration and draws its heritage from the second stage of PSLV and GSLV and strapons of GSLV.
While in PSLV and GSLV, the liquid stage with single engine configuration burns for 150 seconds, the GSLV-MkIII requires burning for 200 seconds in a twin engine configuration.
Posted on February 27, 2010, at 5:06 pm .
Mockup of India's human spacecraft (Credit: ISRO)
ISRO budget at Rs 5000 cr; manned mission gets Rs 150 cr
Press Trust of India
India’s human space flight programme got a major boost as the General Budget on Friday proposed a significant allocation to it and also sought increase in funds for setting up an indigenous global positioning system.
The Budget, presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha, has allocated Rs 150 crore for the human spaceflight programme under which the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to develop a space vehicle to put a two-member crew in space and get them back safely.
The government has already approved pre-project research and development activities in this regard.
The plan allocation for ISRO has been pegged at Rs 5,000 crore [~$1 billion] as against the revised budgetary estimates of Rs 3,172 crore last year.
Read the full story.
Posted on February 22, 2010, at 9:54 am .
Mockup of India's human spacecraft (Credit: ISRO)
This could be the week that ISRO gets formal approval of its plan to send astronauts into space. Express News Service reports:
The Rs 12,000-crore [$2.6 billion] project is yet to be cleared by the government despite the fact that ISRO has submitted the feasibility report. Officials are hopeful that the government will clear the proposed project in which the space agency intends to put two people into space orbit for seven days.
Continue reading ‘India Nears Decision on Human Spaceflight Program’
Posted on February 3, 2010, at 10:37 pm .
International Space Station
Space News has some interesting ISS news from Europe:
The head of the 18-nation European Space Agency (ESA) on Feb. 2 roundly endorsed the new direction U.S. President Barack Obama proposed for NASA, saying a firmer U.S. commitment to the international space station and space-based Earth science would further tighten trans-Atlantic cooperation.
In an interview, ESA Director-General Jean-Jacques Dordain also said his agency was ready to propose to NASA and the other space station partners — Russia, Japan and Canada — that China, India and South Korea be invited to join the station partnership.
Continue reading ‘ESA Chief to Propose that China, South Korea and India Join ISS Program’
Posted on January 31, 2010, at 7:42 pm .
Mockup of India's human spacecraft (Credit: ISRO)
India plans manned space mission in 2016
AFP
India will launch its first manned space mission in 2016 in a bid to match space pioneers such as Russia and the United States, a top official said Wednesday.
The government had already approved plans for a human space flight project by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and last year gave the go-ahead for funding of around 2.8 billion dollars.
Continue reading ‘India Sets 2016 for First Human Spaceflight’
Posted on January 27, 2010, at 12:09 pm .
New GSLV rocket engine forces Indian launch delays
Spaceflight Now
Trouble with a new cryogenic engine is delaying India’s plans to debut an updated all-Indian version of its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, the most powerful rocket in the country’s inventory.
Continue reading ‘India’s First Cryogenic Engine Launch Delayed By Technical Problems’
Posted on January 25, 2010, at 6:13 pm .
South Korea and India have agreed to deepen their cooperation in a wide range of technological areas, including space:
The KARI-ISRO pact outlines future cooperation in space communication, ways to enhance capabilities of remote control probes and promote growth of space-related sciences.
Continue reading ‘ISRO, KARI to Cooperate on Space’
Posted on January 24, 2010, at 2:47 pm .
ISRO PRESS RELEASE
Jan. 24, 2010
Indian Space Research Organisation successfully conducted the static test of its largest solid booster S200 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota today (January 24, 2010). The successful test of S200 makes it the third largest solid booster in the world, next to the RSRM solid booster of Space Shuttle and P230 solid booster of ARIANE-5. The S200 solid booster will form the strap-on stage for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) which is currently under advanced stage of development for launching 4 ton class of communication satellites.
Continue reading ‘India Test Fires New Solid Rocket Booster’
Posted on January 2, 2010, at 1:48 pm .
Mockup of India's human spacecraft (Credit: ISRO)
Indian Space Research Organisation hunt on for vyomanauts – desi astronauts
DNAIndia.com
The hunt for India’s first astronauts — ‘vyomanauts’ in a desi tweak — has begun. Two of the four selected vyomanauts (vyoma means ‘space’ or ‘sky’ in Sanskrit) will finally go on India’s first manned space mission scheduled to lift off in 2015.
Continue reading ‘India Begins Hunt for “Vyomanauts”’
Posted on December 30, 2009, at 7:27 pm .
ISRO's Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter
Chandrayaan-1 Project Director M Annadurai has been honored with the H.K. Firodia award for his contribution to India’s first lunar mission. Scientist Yash Pal also was honored for his work in promoting science communication and education.
The awards, which recognize Indian scientific achievements, are named after the late H.K. Firodia, a leader of the country’s auto industry. Yash Pal was given a cash award of Rs two lakh ($4,298) while Annadurai received Rs one lakh ($2,149).
