Overview
Economy
Military
Info-Tech
Agriculture
Industry
Trade
Space
Finance
Foreign Exchange
Stock Markets
Markets

Infrastructure
Demographics
Entertainment
India - News

Site Map
Search site
Subscribe

Karmayogi

SLV3 - an experimental satellite launch vehicle.

Space Research India has done exceedingly well in area of space research. India is amongst a handful of countries capable of launching their own satellites into orbit. India first launched a satellite into orbit in July 1980 (sixth country in the world to do so). The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launches rockets from the island of Sriharikota, off its eastern coast. ISRO has also entered the lucrative market of launching payloads of other nations upon its rockets from Indian soil. The upcoming launches of a spy satellite for Israel, in mid 2007, and of the Israeli Tauvex-II satellite, scheduled for launch in mid-2007. India has proposed an unmanned scientific mission to the Moon (Chandrayaan-I) in early 2008, in a $86.36 million project. The 525 kg satellite is planned to launch on board India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and placed in 100 km polar orbit around the moon. It will have a lifetime of two years.

Space Budgets (2006)
Source: Wikipedia

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)

Since its formation, ISRO has launched numerous satellites; they include the IRS (Indian Remote Sensing) satellite series, the INSAT (Indian National Satellite) series (in Geo-Stationary orbit), the GSAT series (launched using GSLV) and METSAT 1 (launched by PSLV). As of 2007, the total number of satellites of all varieties built by ISRO is 45.

A dedicated military reconnaissance satellite, CARTOSAT 2A, was launched on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket by ISRO in August 2007. Its Israeli synthetic aperture radar will enable it to take pictures of the earth even in overcast conditions, through the clouds and rain. Its launch will be rapidly followed by the launch of two more advanced imaging satellites by 2008 to give India the capability of keeping an eye round-the-clock on the region surrounding the country.

Past

• Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) - an all-solid four-stage satellite launch vehicle. The SLV can place 40 kg into low earth orbit.
• Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) - an all-solid five-stage satellite launch vehicle. The ASLV can place 150 kg into low earth orbit.

Present

• Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) - a four-stage rocket with liquid and solid stages. The PSLV can place 1600 kg into polar sun synchronous orbit.

• Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark I/II (GSLV-I/II) - a three-stage rocket with solid, liquid and cryo stages. The GSLV can place 2200 kg into geostationary transfer orbit.

Future

• Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV-III) - a three-stage rocket with solid, liquid and cryo stages. The GSLV can place 4000-6000 kg into geostationary transfer orbit.
• Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) - a small remote-piloted scramjet vehicle called Avatar. The RLV will place small satellites into LEO and can be reused for atleast 100 launches reducing the cost of launching satellites.

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) milestones (2000-2007)

• 2000: INSAT-3B was launched.

• 2001: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-D1 (GDLV-D1), the first developmental launch of GSLV with GSAT-1 onboard partially successful.

• 2002: INSAT-3C launched successfully by Arianespace, PSLV-C4 launches KALPANA-1.
• 2003: GSLV-D2, the second developmental launch of GSLV with GSAT-2 successful.
• 2004: First operational flight of GSLV (F01) successfully launches EDUSAT.
• 2005: Launch of CARTOSAT and HAMSAT by PSLV-C6 from the second launch pad (Universal Launch Pad). INSAT 4A Launched successfully by the European Ariane-5G.
• 2006: Second operational flight of GSLV (F02) unsuccessful. GSLV-F02 was carrying INSAT-4C.
• 2007: Successful launch of CARTOSAT-2, SRE-1, LAPAN-TUBSAT and PEHUENSAT-1 on PSLV C7.
• 2007: SRE-1 splashed down in the Bay of Bengal and was successfully recovered by the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy, making India one of the few countries to have re-entry technology.
• 2007: INSAT-4B successfully launched by Arianespace.
• 2007: PSLV-C8 successfully places an Italian satellite, AGILE into its orbit.

According Indian Space Research Organization the U.S. and Europe appear to favor a global partnership in the context of potentially exciting planetary exploration to Mars, and India would be more than willing to be a partner in this huge exercise. For mankind, the next interesting thing (after Moon) is to reach Mars in the 2010-2015 time frame. Already there are indications that more inhabitable. Such (Mars) missions are very expensive; technological challenges are very many and time-consuming.

Worldwide Successful Announced Payloads, 1957-2002
Source: NASA

Note:
ESA - European Space Agency launches payloads for its member countries.
A Payload is something carried into space by a rocket

Missions to outer space

Memorable moments in human spaceflight include moments when man first landed on the moon. in July 1969 (Americans). But the Russians get the credit for the first space travel in April 1961.

As of Oct, 1999 (World Alamanac research), there have been 257 Americans and 94 Russians who have been in outer space. Rakesh Sharma put India in the tenth place for outer space travel after countries like USA, Russia, Germany, Canada, France, Japan, Italy, Bulgaria and Spain.

The Longest space missions include:
Source: NASA

- Rakesh Sharma was part of mission which clocked the fifth longest time ever in space.

- India is amongst the top ten countries in the world, to have put a man in outer space.

- More Details

Questions (FAQ's) or Comments (feedback) about this site? Email to damanig@diehardindian.com
Copyright © 2000 www.diehardindian.com. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use