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India in Space - 2020
Debanjan Ghosh
One of the most
exciting and spectacular developments in the
recorded history of mankind is the exploration of
space and application of space technology for
solving the complex social, economic and
environmental problems confronting mankind.
Since ancient times the infiniteness of space
fired the imagination of Indians and their minds
soared high to unravel its mysteries. In
more modern times pioneers of India's space
program considered space research and space
technology as essential and indispensable for
national reconstruction.
The
Launch of the GSLV
In recent years,
India has concentrated much of its space
development work on complex applications
satellites and more powerful rockets. The nation's
two main interests are satellites for remote
sensing and communications, used for weather
pictures, disaster warning and feeds to 552
television and 164 radio stations on the ground.
A
partial chronology of ISRO
1963 - The first
sounding rocket was launched Nov. 21 from TERLS.
1965 -Space
Science & Technology Center (SSTC) was
established in Thumba, Trivandrum.
1967 - Satellite
Telecommunication Earth Station was erected at
Ahmedabad.
1969 - Indian
Space Research Organization (ISRO) was created on
August 15 in the Department of Atomic Energy.
Since then, ISRO has managed India's space
research and the uses of space for peaceful
purposes.
1972 - The
government established the Space Commission and
the Department of Space (DOS) in June. DOS
conducts the nation's space activities for ISRO at
four space Centers across the country. DOS reports
directly to the Prime Minister.
1972 - ISRO
placed under DOS on June 1.
1975 - ISRO made
a Government Org. on April 1.
1975 - Aryabhata,
the first Indian space satellite, was launched for
India on April 19.
1979 - Bhaskara-I,
an experimental satellite for earth observations,
launched on June 7.
1979 - The first
experimental launch of an SLV-3 rocket on August
10 did not place its Rohini Technology Payload
satellite in orbit.
1980 - India
successfully launched its own Rohini-1 satellite
on July 18 on a Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV)
rocket from the Sriharikota Island launch site.
1983 - The
Rohini-3 communications satellite, launched in
August, had by the end of 1985 extended nationwide
television coverage from 20 percent to 70 percent
of the population. Today it is about 90 percent.
1984 - The first
Indian cosmonaut, Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma
became the 138th man in space when he spent eight
days aboard the USSR's space station Salyut 7.
1992 - The
Indian-built INSAT-2 geostationary communications
and meteorological satellite superseded an
American-built INSAT-1.
1993 - The even
larger Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
debuted in September, but failed to attain orbit.
Its individual elements were successful. PSLV can
lift a one-ton satellite to a Sun-synchronous
polar orbit.
2001 -- The first
launch of a still larger Geosynchronous Satellite
Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket was successful on
April 18.
2002- On 2nd
September 1st MET Satellite was
launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center at
Srihorikota. It keeps continuous watch on weather through
its high resolution Radiometer.
2003-The
multipurpose, INSAT-3A was launched from
France on 10th April. A
communication satellite weighing 1800 Kg was
launched aboard the GSLV-D2 from Sriharikota on 8th
May.
In recent years,
India has achieved some remarkable successes in
the field of space technology. It has made
significant strides both in the fields of
satellite and launch vehicle technologies. Since
these technologies are dual use in nature, they
have both civilian and military applications.
By using the PSLV,
India launched the Technology Experiment
Satellite, which has a resolution capacity of one
meter. The satellite also has a sun-synchronous
orbit, which is significant from the military
standpoint.
Similarly, the
INSAT communication satellites, although primarily
used for civilian purposes, possess military
application. They can be used for multi-purpose
access digital data transmission, tele-conferencing
and remote area emergency communications, features
that could well be utilized in a military command
and control network and for military operations
such as search and rescue.
Recently, Dr.
Marc Garneau, President of the Canadian Space
Agency (CSA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding
with Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, Chairman of
the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO),
reaffirming their pursuit of international space
cooperation for peaceful purposes while working
towards economic and social development for both
countries. The Memorandum lays the framework for
continuing cooperation in projects and activities
in which we share a common interest. The
Memorandum will foster the study of cooperative
programs in satellite communications and satellite
remote sensing as well as encouraging cooperation
in the field of exploration and use of space by
the private sector and academia in both countries.
Now, ISRO markets
$40 million worth of images from it's five
satellites. India seems to be on a good wicket to
take on the competition, what with launch costs
here said to be a small fraction of that of the
other three or four space-faring nations. Besides,
it is good that India’s launch capability (to
put into orbit large communications satellites)
has taken off just when the renaissance in such
systems is around the corner. Zee television plans
to design and launch a satellite of its own, which
will be suited to the media needs of the
subcontinent. The future of broadband
communications is now hitched to satellites like
never before. The sky could soon be filled with
more than 400 satellites providing internet users
with low-cost, direct to home connections that are
hundreds of times faster than the fastest
ground-based networks accessed via dial-up modems.
The best part is
that the new systems will operate at extremely
high, narrow-beam, radio frequencies and all that
is required for receiving signals would be
ultra-small antennas that can be easily mounted on
most homes.
However, ISRO
wants to continue to make custom-designed
remote-sensing satellites which are unique and
role-specific. They are going to develop more
sophisticated launchers like the GSLV, capable of
putting above 2,000 kg satellites into orbit and,
generally speaking, continue to meet the
development needs of the country.
ISRO wants to
shape its future on the rather successful French
model. In France, most of the research and
development relating to space technology is
conducted by the Center National D'etudes Spatials
(CNES) in Paris. Once a product has been
adequately tested, it is transferred to
Arianespace Corporation, a purely commercial arm.
Araianespace then produces the components and
launchers in bulk on a production line.
Talks have
already begun with various industries and
possibly, PSLV may be bought by a consortium of
Indian industries. Godrej and Boyce, Larsen and
Toubro and Walchandnagar Industries are already
major suppliers of components and, most probably,
one of them will come forward to head the
consortium, say ISRO officials. Going a step
further, the ISRO chairman says that sophisticated
test facilities developed by ISRO at considerable
expense can be very easily shared with the private
sector. He categorically emphasized that there was
no need to build another launch pad as the
existing facilities can be shared by the private
sector and the government.
 ISRO is a vast
organism today spread all over India. It has
dedicated facilities for research, design,
fabrication, management and marketing for its many
abilities: liquid and cryogenic propulsion,
satellites, inertial systems, telemetry, space
imaging, control systems and of course launch
services. Success breeds success and it’s
happening with ISRO. In near future we can see sea
of changes. The various programs that may be
considered by our space scientists are as follows:
Science Program:
Development,
construction and operation of satellites, space
probes and high-altitude sounding rockets for
performing and evaluating missions in the fields
of astronomy, astrophysics, exploration of the
solar system and the planets as well as
gravitational physics.
Infrastructure
programs:
Development of
transport technologies, space transportation
systems as well as satellite and operation
technologies. Development of an automated supply
vehicle and of equipment for future experimental
programs. Development of rescue vehicles to ensure
return of the crew from the Space Station; further
development of the ground infrastructure, of user
Centers and astronaut training facilities for the
operation and exploitation of the Space Station
and the satellite systems.
Space
transportation systems/launcher technologies:
Systems design
and analysis for future (reusable) transportation
systems, technologies for highly stressed
structures and materials; guidance, navigation and
control (GNC) systems
technologies and
components for engines of future space
transportation systems, consistent use of
potential synergies for non-space applications.
Technology
for space systems/robotics:
Development of
space robot technologies for inspection,
maintenance and repair work running experiments on
the International Space Station (Space Station
payloads) the maintenance and supply of satellites
and the exploration of other planets with
automatic vehicles. Development of new
applications with terrestrial and commercial
prospects.
Necessary technical developments to accommodate
wide range of satellites and multiple number of
satellites in a single launch have been undertaken
to increase versatility of our launch vehicles.
The payload capacity of PSLV is enhanced from
about 1000 Kg to 1400 Kg in sun synchronous
orbits. A number of potential micro and
small satellite customers around the world are
identified and they have been contacted and
provided with relevant information on the
capabilities of our launch vehicles suiting their
launch needs.
Telemedicine:
The Committee was
informed that telemedicine is an emerging
area where there is a lot of scope to successfully
apply space technology. Most of the States
are interested to adopt telemedicine practices to
extend medical facilities to people inhabiting
remote and inaccessible areas. Doctors are
showing keen interest to offer their services to
patients through telemedicine. Tele-medicine
mainly consists of customized medical software
integrated with computer hardware, along with
medical diagnostic instruments connected to the
commercial VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) at
each location, which is linked to satellite.
Disaster Management Support:
The disaster
management support program encompasses following
aspects:
Flood Monitoring:
Near real-time monitoring of major floods is being
continued using data from IRS and RADARSAT.
The information generated is being disseminated to
State administrations. They propose to use
the digital database for generating village level
information on flood inundation and affected
population.
Landslide Hazard
Zone Mapping: An atlas containing landslide hazard
and management maps were brought out for the
pilgrim routes of Himachal Pradesh and Himalayas
at 1:25,000 scale. These atlases were
supplied to the various implementing agencies and
user workshops were conducted at Dehradun and
Shimla for familiarizing them in their use.
Digital Database
Creation: One of the critical requirements to
provide special information on floods and other
disasters is the availability of digital database.
A Technical Committee has worked out the database
requirements in terms of themes, special scale,
updating cycle, methodology and priority
districts. Based on these inputs, a major
project has been formulated to create digital
database.
Space Capsule Recovery
Equipment:
Space Capsule
Recovery Experiment (SRE) envisages development of
recoverable capsule. It is intended to
develop and demonstrate technologies related to
conducting micro gravity experiments in space,
recovery from orbit through re-entry into
earth’s atmosphere and recovery of the capsule
on sea or land. It is proposed to be launched
along with a passenger through one of the
forthcoming launches of PSLV into polar
sun-synchronous orbit during 2004/05.
Geo Sphere Biosphere Program:
Global climate
change is of great concern to the world. Realizing
the importance this program encompasses the study
of land-air-ocean interaction, past climate,
changes in atmospheric composition, aerosols,
carbon cycle, bio-mass estimation, bio-diversity
and other related areas of scientific
investigation. The ISRO-GBP is aimed at
using maximum data from ISRO’s own satellites.
Exploration
of outer space:
Implementation of national projects or cooperation
in international in the fields of astronomy and
astrophysics and for the exploration of our solar
system (sun, small bodies, planets, interplanetary
space) as well as on issues of basic physics (e.g.
gravitation theory) using space technology. Making
use of the special conditions in space which
cannot be reproduced in ground labs in order to
obtain basic findings on the behaviour of physical
and biological systems in this environment,
deriving parameters for improving application and
industry related techniques in ground labs when
addressing materials and life science problems.
Security and military aspects:
Media reports
suggest that the ISRO is shortly going to launch
its next polar satellite launch vehicle rocket
with the Cartosat surveillance satellite as its
principal payload, exclusively for defense use.
Cartosat would be equipped with a powerful camera,
which will enable the field commanders to acquire
point-specific information about target areas.
Possible threats through space by rogue states
could be confronted by a package of military
measures (including a purely defensive shield) and
political and economic sanctions.
International
terrorism cannot be defeated from space, but space
assets can contribute substantially to its
containment.
International Cooperation:
ISRO should
emphasize working together with other countries
and international bodies in promoting the
development and use of space technology for
different applications. They may envisage
the facts:
(a)
Working
with other space agencies in programs of mutual
interest,
(b)
Participating
in international committees and other forums
dealing with space policies and coordination of
space operations,
(c)
Seeking
support from other countries for India’s space
activities and
(d)
Providing
expertise and services to other developing
countries in the applications of space technology.
At
present, Department of Space and ISRO have formal
Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) or Agreement with
Australia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada,
China, EUMETSAT-1, European Space Agency (ESA),
France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel,
Italy, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Norway, Peru,
Russia, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, U.K., Ukraine,
and USA.
Sponsored Research:
Sponsored
Research (RESPOND) program is aimed at
strengthening the academic interaction with
colleges, universities, and institutes of
technology and research institutions. The
activities include (a) research and development
project in space sciences, applications and
technology (b) space technology cells (c) space
science and applications cells (d) space education
programs (f) conferences, publication and
promotional activities relevant to the Indian
space program. DOS reviews the sponsored
projects. This will help generate human resources
at the academic institutions to support the space
program.
Planetary prowess:
India limbers up
for space race as prime minister asks for the moon
. A $78 million unmanned lunar mission-plan seeks
to showcase India's scientific expertise and stake
its claim to join a select club for future
planetary missions.
India's lunar
mission, which is awaiting the government's nod,
will launch a 400 kg satellite into orbit within
the next five years using a locally built polar
satellite launch vehicle. "It will go around
the polar orbit about 100 km above the moon,"
Kasturirangan said.
The satellite
will probe the physical characteristics of the
lunar surface, certain aspects of physical,
chemical and "geochronological aspects"
of the moon, he said.
"It will further add to an overall database which
properly modeled, could improve our understanding
of the origin of moon, which is still not
answered," he said. Kasturirangan said India
might scout global markets for small instruments
for the satellite.
Critics have said
cash-strapped India should not undertake a lunar
mission but instead restrict its space programs to
satellite launches and use its funds for social
welfare.
India's Anna University To
Develop Microsat:
Adding to the
cache, on February 15, 2002 the Anna University
proposed to develop a micro-satellite in
collaboration with ISRO.
The satellite
will be developed in about three years. Being the
first of its kind for an Indian university in
spacecraft development, the micro-satellite will
be a comparatively simple one weighing around 60
kg. It will have body-mounted solar panels
generating about 40 Watt of electrical power and
will be spin-stabilised. It will have a data
store-and-forward payload for conducting
experiments on message transfer across the
country.
These
micro-satellites could be used to test advanced
technologies for future operational satellites or
for larger scientific missions. The advantage of
micro-satellites is that they can be launched as
piggyback payloads along with a primary satellite
like IRS thus making the Micro-satellite launch
affordable.
For ease of
understanding the milestones that need to be
overcome to achieve the dream successful are
listed below:
- Building
up a sound international cooperation
- Proper
management of disasters, food problems, health
hazards through sat-communication. Thereby
gaining public faith for the expensive project
which is devoted for the nation’s overall
development
- Break
through in cryogenics and discovery of more
sophisticated devices
- Sanctioning
of a larger budget from government for space
research,
- Development
of reusable space probe and space capsule
recovery technology.
- Development
of space station of its own
- Development
of space robot technologies for inspection,
maintenance, repair work on the International
space stations
- Discovery
of technology to accommodate multiple
satellites in a single launch
- Strengthening
of academic interaction with India’s premier
tech. institute to boost research work
- Greater
interactions and tie-ups with national and
international business groups.
Conclusions
Actually,
satellite technology seems to be emerging as the
right platform for the whole gamut of national
development. But it is a moot point whether the
commercial arm of ISRO is in a position to
leverage its resources and acquire market share in
the lucrative launch segment. We already have a
functional polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV),
for much smaller remote sensing satellites, but
commercial usage has been minimal. That surely
needs to change.
The long saga of
the GSLV has also provided a much-required avenue
of expression for the latent pool of scientific
talent available in the nation. The involvement of
over 150 organizations, including industries in
the private sector and leading academic
institutions in this success story only proves the
need for a convergence of the available domestic
capabilities for furthering scientific advances.
With appropriate adaptations, the success of the
ISRO's linkages with industry and academia could
be replicated in other crucial areas. To build on
the successful launch of the GSLV, there should be
adequate support from Parliament as well as the
Government. Especially
at a time when the Tenth Plan allocations are
under way. The thrust of the future of ISRO should
be to make the required quantum leap to take the
nation closer to the rapid developments that are
taking place in the select group of nations
involved in space technology. India should not be
happy with merely remaining in the space club. It
is important that it does not remain a laggard.
References:
http://www.india-newsbehindnews.com/space.html
www.isro.org
http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/media/press_room/news_releases/2003/030327.asp
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/microsat-02c.html
http://www.spacetoday.org/India/IndiaSpaceHistory.html
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=323
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=11080
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/08/000814171925.htm
http://rajyasabha.nic.in/book2/reports/science/114threport.htm
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/SPACE/space-history2.html
www.competitionmaster.com
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