India spares slowing ISRO’s space missions

India spares slowing ISRO’s space missions
(Express News) May 12, 2010
The quality of home-grown electronic components, which are integrated to satellites and launch vehicles, is very poor and hence is hampering the process of indigenisation of the Indian Space programme, said Dr D Narayanamoorthy, senior scientist at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He was delivering the National Technology Day lecture on Indian Space Endeavour on Tuesday. He said that while the percentage of indigenous components in the launch vehicles was very high, the percentage of indigenous components integrated into spacecrafts was about 50 per cent. This, he said, was despite the very poor quality of home-grown electronic components.

ISRO aims for the skies, targets space tourism

ISRO aims for the skies, targets space tourism
(Economic Times India) April 7, 2010
Even as countries are vying to grab a share of the tourism pie, ISRO is aiming at the skies, literally. They are seriously taking upthe challenge of pursuing space tourism in a big way. Newly-appointed chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dr K Radhakrishnan says the space agency is exploring new strategies and technologies for human space flight programmes, low-cost access to space tourism and the colonisation of Mars and the Moon. As of 2009, space tourism opportunities have been limited and expensive, with the Russian Space Agency providing this facility. The price for a flight brokered by Space Adventures to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft is $20-35 million. Space tourists usually sign contracts with third parties to conduct certain research while in orbit. This helps minimise their own expenses. Countries like the US, Russia and Japan have already started work to have a habitat in Mars by 2030 and are devising a transportation system to reach Mars.

India: Climbing into space

Climbing into space

(Financial Express India) April 5, 2010, By Huma Siddiqui

Until now, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has used Russian-made cryogenic engines for putting its satellite launch vehicles into space. The polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) is used for launching remote sensing satellites into polar orbits and geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) for launching communication and meteorological satellites into geo-synchronous transfer orbit. But later this month, if the Indian space agency’s attempt to launch its largest rocket, the GSLV-D3 with an indigenous cryogenic engine succeeds, then India will join the elite club of five nations in the world to have successfully developed such technology. For the country’s rocket scientists, the yet-to-be-achieved breakthrough is significant on two fronts—one, they will achieve self reliance and confidence in space technology. Two, India will emerge as a serious player in the $4 billion global satellite launch market.

India plans to launch 10 satellites every year

India plans to launch 10 satellites every year

(Deccan Herald India) March 31, 2010

Indian space scientists and engineers are bracing up to launch an average of 10 satellites per year to meet the rising demand for various space applications, including communications and remote sensing, a top space scientist said. "We are planning to launch 10 satellites per year, beginning fiscal 2010-11. We have a series of satellites and launch vehicles at various stages of preparation," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Radhakrishnan told reporters. Though this fiscal (2009-10), it could launch only three -- Oceansat-2, Risat-2 (radar imaging satellite) in association with Israeli Aerospace Industries, and Anusat, a micro-satellite.

India Forestry satellite by 2013: Jairam Ramesh

Forestry satellite by 2013: Jairam Ramesh

(The Hindu) March 8, 2010, By A. D. Rangarajan

Union Minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh has announced that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a dedicated forestry satellite in all likelihood in the year 2013. Against the biennial exercise in vogue, the facility will help to continuously monitor the forest cover, health and diversity. Similarly, efforts are on to launch an indigenous satellite for monitoring greenhouse gases and aerosol emissions next year, which will place India on a rung occupied by a select few in the world. Speaking to journalists after inaugurating the Indian Climate Observatory Network (ICON) at the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) campus near here on Sunday, Mr. Ramesh called the satellite a major afforestation initiative — a key player in tackling climate change issues.

Moon and beyond - India's space programme in take-off mode

Moon and beyond - India's space programme in take-off mode

(Earth Times) March 8, 2010

As the United States winds down its space shuttle programme, emerging economy India is developing its own reusable launch vehicle that it hopes will make it a space power. The Avatar, a reusable launch vehicle (RLV), would be capable of delivering a 500 to 1000-kilogramme payload into orbit at a fairly low cost. The Aerobic Vehicle for Hypersonic Aerospace Transportation (Avatar) is just one example of how far India's space programme has travelled since it first launched a sounding rocket in 1963 from a fishing village Thumba in southern Kerala. India's space scientists have, over four decades, slowly but steadily developed a mature capability despite small budgets and an embargo on high technology transfers because of its nuclear tests.

India, South Korea Sign Space Agreement

The Beginning of Something Big

(IT News) January 22, 2010

Continuous and remarkable economic growth has allowed India to emerge as a global power, increasing its presence in the world economy. Unlike most economies to post negative growth at the height of the global crisis, India is actually expected to achieve an impressive growth rate exceeding five percent in 2009. Korea has world class competitiveness manufacturing devices or equipment. Plus, Korea is the 12 largest economy in the world. Space technology is also a new avenue for India and Korea to develop commercial space launch, remote sensing, mapping and GPS based navigation. In addition biotechnology and green technology these are other areas of potential interest in Korea. Counselor Rajasekhar made another insightful comment by stating, “By working together sky is the limit. Seize the opportunity – now when the Korean government and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) are additional facilitating factors.

South Korea upbeat on n-pact with India, signs IT and space pacts (Roundup)

(Thaindian) January 25th, 2010

New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) Keen to give their growing economic ties the shape of a strategic partnership, India and South Korea Monday agreed to create a framework for bilateral civil nuclear cooperation and also signed pacts in areas ranging from peaceful uses of outer space to cooperation in IT. The two countries set a target of nearly doubling their $16 billion bilateral trade to $30 billion by 2014 and accelerate cooperation in areas like combating maritime piracy and joint development of military hardware. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-bak Monday evening on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues, including the intensification of economic ties, UN reforms and cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, defence and civilian space technologies. The two sides inked four accords after the talks - related to cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space, IT, science and technology for the year 2010-12 and transfer of sentenced persons.

India launches rockets to study eclipse

India launches rockets to study eclipse
(CNN) January 14, 2010, By Harmeet Shah Singh
India is launching a series of rockets to study the impact of Friday's solar eclipse, a rare occurrence that will briefly reduce the sun to a blazing ring. The Indian Space Research Organization has already sent up three rockets, and at least five others are scheduled for launch during the eclipse, its spokesman, S. Satish, told CNN. Astronomers term the Friday phenomenon an annular eclipse, when the moon covers the center of the sun and not its edges. The Indian rockets will record changes the eclipse causes in the lower and middle atmosphere as it races from Africa to Asia, he said.