GSLV "The naughty boy" behaved well

"Today the naughty boy has become obedient" are the words of S.Ramakrishnan, director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC); another notable quote from K. Sivan, mission director, GSLV " behind the wonderful 1000-seconds success of GSLV flight, there are more than 1000-days of dedication of scientists" sums up the mood and satisfaction of GSLV team on placing the "Naughty boy" within few 10's meters of precision on the perigee (nearest) point of the initial orbit. As the chairman ISRO pointed out the secret behind the success is due to relentless hard work of having gone through a 45-different types of tests on the proto-type engine. This success has not only bolstered the confidence of ISRO scientists on the communications satellites front but is also going to pave way for INDIA to emerge as a strong player on the inter planetary exploration and for the manned missions into space and other extra terrestrial regimes.

GSLV-D5 lift off
Credit : ISRO

Lets peek into the pages of cryogenics engine development: 
The cryogenic engine history was connected with the erstwhile USSR during 1991 days; however, with the disintegration of USSR; ISRO faced stumbling blocks in having the technology transferred as per the original MOU; ISRO could manage to get 7- cryogenic engines; even though the "transfer of technology" remained only as a dream. Some experts believed that if everything had gone as per planned, India would have been ready with this "elusive" technology by 2001 itself; may be today, in the early 2014 we can say all is well that ends well; even if it has stretched an agonizing 13-years.

While in 2010, the rejuvenated ISRO team with indigenous cryogenics engines faced flak for the failure of GSLV-D3 (the flaw seems to have stemmed at the malfunctioning of a cryogenic engine), the last ditch attempt using the last 2-Russian engines too faced a similar fate.  Yesterday's success has broken the jinx as the ISRO team had to abort the very recent launch with the indigenous cryogenic engines (August-2013) due to leaks monitored in the liquid fuel tank, just few moments before the launch.

The GSLV success puts ISRO (and INDIA) into the "grand masters" club ( US, Russia, France, Japan and China in that order) of carrying 2-tonnes and more class of satellites into the geosynchronous orbit; a niche market where the business arm of ISRO, ANTRIX can grab ample opportunities coming on their way. With the annual budget touching Rs. 1,300 crores  (~200-million dollars) INDIA can only hope for better things to happen in the future; their chairman goes onto comment that ANTRIX is hoping for 15% annual growth.  Similarly, ANTRIX is hoping for many more opportunities to fall in their kitty along with the present commitment of launching 3- satellites of UK (weighing 200-kgs) and another of German satellite weighing 800-kg as per the press reports appearing today. Chandrayaan-II, Human Space Program and other ambitious programs can now appears to be on the horizon for ISRO wish list. The director of VSSC adds further that ISRO is now confident of pushing their future of GSLV class vehicles called GSLV Mk-III which carries 20-tonnes of liquid propellant and has capacity to carry 4-tonnes of payload into geosynchronous orbit.

To wind up this post;  here is the bottom line:
India dreamed of having a cryogenic technology during the 1960s itself; but took an alternative decision of taking help from the experts in 1992 and now in 2014 have tasted the success almost in 52-years (vow.. as OLD or as YOUNG as me);... can we now say..
" ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL "...


N.B: 
Today the 16th Jan, 2014; a book review on  India's Rise as a Space Power written by the very well known Space Scientist Prof. U.R. Rao appeared in the press here in India. While bringing out the summary, Mr. Vasudevan Mukunth (of The Hindu) narrates an interesting aspect relevant to this post. As per Prof. Rao, the American giant General Dynamics in 1988 had indeed given an offer of $ 800-millions to sell 2 RL-10 cryogenic engines; while the Arianespace in 1989 had come forward with a $1,200 millions quote. It was due to these incidences, ISRO had taken a BOLD decision to build its own technology for 12-tonne cryogenics engine.

GSLV- Cryoengines would be in the hands of HAL

The idea of opening this site (ISRO-The glowing face of India) is to bring to the notice of the world on various developments taking place in the domains of ISRO.

The experiences gained by the author during his participation as a team leader of one science experiment CHACE  (CHandra's Altitudinal Composition Explorer link)  in the Moon Impact Project of Chandrayaan-I would be utilized in drawing some conclusions and bringing out the highlights of various developments.

PSLV, C-11 Carrying Chandrayaan-I, Credit: ISRO

The recent report published in the newspaper The Hindu report should be something to cheer about for all the enthusiasts who like to see India to grow into a big player,  literally in the space. The ISRO chairman, Mr. Radhakrishnan has announced that the HAL (Hindustan Aeronatics Limited)  would produce the cryogenics engine for GSLV. This report also suggests that few stages of the GSLV mk-III vehicle, the giant version of GSLV in the 4+ ton payload category is already being handled by the HAL.

The preparation of Rs. 139-crore (~ $ 27.8 million) worth set up in HAL premises would be catering to the production GSLV cryogenic engine and parts of the GSLV vehicle. This would certainly take away a huge burden from the scientists/engineers at ISRO; who can now concentrate on the new frontiers

In another report ( The Hindu ), it was suggested by the chairman of ISRO  that a national committee would look into the involvement of private parties (industry) to take the routine work of building the polar launch vehicles, PSLV. The same report also claims that while the participation of private players in the communication satellite has reached 80% level; a similar situation must be set for the launch vehicles too.

Here are few conclusions one can draw from the above two reports:

1.  The thumping success of Chandrayaan-I has lead ISRO to take an equally exciting and timely challenge of aspiring to reach the most sought after heavenly body, the planet MARS. With the release of stress in building the already existing technology based PSLVs and GSLVs, ISRO could look upto even some exciting opportunities at par with the international players in hunting down the exotic extra-terrestrial bodies.

2. There is a huge commercial market waiting to be grabbed in the form of building geosynchronous satellites to many countries for supporting the TV transmission. ISRO could not only take a big pie of this market, it could also utilize the precious slots available over the neighboring countries for the combine usage.

3. ISRO can take a leading role in supporting many aspiring nations heading for their participation into the space. On their part ISRO has already accomplished ( Peggy back satellites by ISRO )taking nearly a dozen medium, small, micro and nano satellites into space.

4. It will be a win-win situation both for ISRO (as they can now look for more adventures avenues) and private industry in India which is getting matured along with the popularity of ISRO and eventually generate more jobs and drive Indian economy.

-S.M. Ahmed




 N.B.: The views presented here are only that of author. No other official source from ISRO or affiliated centers has been consulted in arriving at the above said discussions.   As and where the material is taken from the public domain, an appropriate credit has been offered.