CRYOGENIC HURDLE CLEARED

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested its indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) for GSLV MkIII on February 17, 2017. The cryogenic stage designated as C25 was tested for a flight duration of 640 seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri. C25 Stage had earlier been tested successfully for 50 seconds on January 25, 2017 to validate all the systems. 

Prior to Stage development hot tests, three CE20 engines were realised and two engines were subjected to qualification tests in sea level conditions. This included 800 seconds duration hot test and the third engine identified for flight was tested in high altitude conditions for a duration of 25 seconds.

This Stage test is a significant milestone as it is the last in series of engine and stage development hot tests before the first development flight of GSLV MkIII, expected in April, 2017.

The C25 stage is the most powerful upper stage developed by ISRO and uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) propellant combination.  The stage carries 27.8 tons of propellants loaded in two independent tanks. Development of a cryogenic stage has unique design challenges, with liquid Hydrogen stored at -253 deg C and liquid Oxygen stored at -195 deg C in its tanks. To store these cryogenic fluids, special multi-layer insulation is provided for the tanks and other structures.

The development of the cryogenic stage was led by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) with support from various System Development Agencies from other centres of ISRO, viz., Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) and Sathish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR.

The Cryogenic Stage development tests were carried out in two phases. First, the Stage was subjected to fluid mock-up, wherein the stage preparation and servicing at launch complex in SDSC, SHAR, Shriharikota was completed to prove all the ground facilities established for servicing the cryogenic stage. This was followed by testing of the Stage at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. From the Stage realisation to completion of testing was accomplished in four months.

The performance of the Stage during the hot test was as predicted. Successful hot test for flight duration qualifies the design of the stage and the robustness of the facilities conceived and established towards its development.

The flight cryogenic stage is in advanced stage of realisation, and forms the upper stage of GSLV MK-III, the next generation launch vehicle of ISRO, capable of launching 4 ton class satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The vehicle consists of two solid strap-ons (S200) motors, one earth storable liquid core stage (L110) and the Cryogenic Upper Stage (C25).

The GSLV MK-III vehicle integration activities are in progress at SDSC, SHAR for its first development flight (GSLV MkIII-D1) targeted for April 2017.

Source: ISRO

Image Credits : ISRO

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104 SATELLITES IN ONE GO

Yes you read that right. Not 4 not 10, it is 104. 

In its thirty-ninth flight on 15th February, 2017, PSLV C-37, the star performer of ISRO blasted off from SDSC(Satish Dhawan Space Center) SHAR(Shriharikota) along with 104 satellites on board. Flight which took off at 09:28 AM IST, took a little less than 29 minutes to place all its 104 passengers in their designated orbits.

The primary payload on board the launcher was CARTOSAT-2 series satellite. Weighing around 714 kg at launch, the satellite is similar to 4 other CARTOSAT satellites currently in orbit. The satellite was injected in 505 km Sun Synchronous Orbit(SSO) and would later be brought to its operational orbit by firing the Liquid Apogee Motor(LAM) of the satellite.

CARTOSAT will provide regular remote sensing services using its Panchromatic and Multi-Spectral cameras. The imagery sent by the satellites will be used for cartographic applications, urban and rural applications, utility management like road network networking , water distribution, etc.

Besides CARTOSAT, there were two other Indian passengers on the flight. PSLV C-37 carried two ISRO Nano Satellites(INS). INS-1-A and INS-1-B. Basically INS on board PSLV this time are mainly technology demonstrators having few missions to be carried out by them. INS-1-A had a lift off weight of 8.4 kg while INS-1-B weighed 9.7 kg at lift-off.

101 of 104 satellites launched were from foreign customers. 96 were from USA, 1 each from Israel, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, Switzerland and UAE. Together, the foreign satellites weighed 645.9 kg at lift-off.

This mission was special as it was for the first time that so many satellites were being send into space at one go. With such a big number, the complexities associated with the mission increases many-fold. The satellite release mechanism which releases the payloads after reaching the desired orbit, had to be modified and function accurately each of the 104 times. No margin of error at all.

This mission is just an example of the growing stature of ISRO in the space community. ISRO's PSLV is now seen as one of the most trusted launcher in the world for the launch of polar satellites. We are growing very fast and now we are preparing the next two important launch missions. One being the launch mission of GSLV MK-II and other one, the most awaited one, the launch mission of the big daddy, GSLV MK-III.

Stay tuned for more.

Image Credits: ISRO

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EXCITING WEEK FOR ISRO

This week has been very crucial for ISRO as it achieved 2 major milestones in a span of 3 days.
The first one being the successful flight of PSLV C-37, launched from SDSC SHAR on 15th February, which placed 104 satellites into orbit, 101 of them belonging to foreign customers.

The second major milestone was the successful test of ingenuously developed cryogenic engine for full duration of 640 seconds, at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. The engine labeled as C25 was earlier tested for a duration of 50 seconds on 25th January, 2017 to validate all the systems.

I will be writing on both of these events in detail in my next two articles. So stay tuned.

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PDV TEST SUCCESSFULL

India Successfully Test-Fires interceptor Missile.

The PRITHVI Defense Vehicle on its course to a spectacular success.

BALASORE: India today successfully test-fired its interceptor missile off the Odisha coast, achieving a significant milestone in the direction of developing a two-layered Ballistic Missile Defence system.

The interceptor was launched from Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island) of ITR at about 7.45 AM.

This mission, termed as "PDV mission is for engaging the targets in the exo-atmosphere region at an altitude above 50 km of earth's atmosphere", said a Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) official.

"Both, the PDV interceptor and the two stage target missile, were successfully engaged," he said.

The target was developed for mimicking a hostile Ballistic Missile approaching from more than 2000 km away was launched from a ship anchored in the Bay of Bengal.

In an automated operation, radar-based detection and tracking system detected and tracked the enemy's ballistic missile.

The computer network with the help of data received from radars predicted the trajectory of the incoming Ballistic Missile.

PDV that was kept fully ready, took-off once the computer system gave the necessary command for lift-off. The Interceptor guided by high accuracy Inertial Navigation System (INS) supported by a Redundant Micro Navigation System moved towards the estimated point of the interception.

Once the missile crossed the atmosphere, the Heat Shield ejected and the IR Seeker dome opened to look at the Target location as designated by the Mission Computer.

With the help of Inertial Guidance and IR Seeker, the missile moved for the interception. All events were monitored in real-time by the Telemetry/Range Stations, at various other locations.

In Pic: PDV

Source: Indian Defence Updates