2 key missions of spl test vehicle developed as part of #Gaganyaan are most likely in Aug & Dec. As I’d reported earlier, @isro is working towards 2 tests to establish crew abort & escape systems before the first uncrewed mission. 1/n
We are looking to schedule the 1st abort mission in Aug & the 2nd in Dec: Somnath. @isro to intentionally cause an anomaly & allow crew module to come out of it, do tumbling manoeuvres, deploy parachutes, & land in a designated spot on the sea before being recovered. 2/n
Aside from this — which is only one type of abort test — there are different events such as maximum dynamic pressure condition, maximum acceleration condition, some transient condition etc, in which abort will become critical in flight... 3/n
In all, Isro has realised four such special test vehicles, two missions of which will happen this year. 4/n
Work on the 2,275-kg data relay sats — Indian Data Relay Satellite System or #IDRSS — is ongoing. On Apr 4, @isro received satellite structure from @HALHQBLR (see pic), but a lot of work is still pending. “...The relay satellites have not been scheduled this year,” Somnath. 5/n
Its importance: At any given point — during #Gaganyaan launch and orbiting — at least 1 ground station needs to be able to see it. But with current network (@isro is working on securing at least 40 ground stations) that won’t be possible, bringing #IDRSS into play. 6/n
Further, the #PSLV mission scheduled to launch earth observation satellite-6 (EOS-6) or #Oceansat3 will now only happen in August-September. 7/n
“This is a more complex satellite and unlike the earlier ones in the family where the optics (sensors) were imported this will have indigenous ones. There are several challenges that are being addressed,” Somanath said. 8/n
However, the space agency is looking at another #PSLV mission in May involving a commercial satellite, which will be done through Space PSU @NSIL_India. 9/n
On the proposed landing experiment or #LEX of the re-usable launch vehicle technology demonstrator or #RLVTD, Somnath said: “If wind conditions are favourable, we should be able to do it this month. This work is progressing.” 10/n
Sources in VSSC said that the vehicle has returned from Challakere where it underwent some captive tests last month. “The data is being studied and we are preparing for #LEX,” one of them said. 11/n
The much-awaited first developmental flight of SSLV is scheduled for May, Isro will conduct two more this year. “After one in May, we’re looking to schedule one in August and one in December. All three are developmental flights,” Somanath said. 12/n
And, #AdityaL1 is expected to make the Sept-Oct window, missing which would push the mission to 2023. While the team is confident, headquarters is yet to take a final call on launch dates. “In all likelihood, it could happen this year,” one source said. 13/n
However, #Chandrayaan3 is expected to be pushed to 2023 even as testing of various systems continues. “The list of tests is long & we don't want to compromise on anything. It's unlikely that we launch this year given that we have specific windows to do it,” Somanath said. n/n
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Exclusive: More than 10yrs after it was launched, #MeghaTropiques, @isro & @CNES joint weather modelling satellite that was studying water cycle & energy exchanges in the tropics has reached what’s called “end of mission”. 1/n
The satellite, which was launched in October 2011 and initially estimated to have a life of five years has worked for five-years-and-six-months more than initial estimations and sent in at least 5TB of raw data which has yielded around 30TB of data sitting on various servers. 2/n
A senior Isro scientist said: “As on date, the satellite still has 120kg of fuel and end of mission is also not because of failures in communication, solar panels or any other systems or because we lost communication. All of those are still working.” 3/n
@iiscbangalore researchers, addressing challenges of present techniques of obtaining metal powder, a major source for #3Dprinting has identified an alternative, low-cost technique to produce the same. To be useful across sectors. 1/n
Pointing out #3Dprinting creates objects by addition of material, layer by layer, @iiscbangalore said metal powders are predominantly produced using a technique called atomisation, in which a molten metal stream is broken up into fine droplets using air or water jets. 2/n
“However, despite its widespread use, atomisation returns poor yield, is expensive & inflexible in types of materials it can handle. A team led by Koushik Viswanathan, asst prof, dept of mechanical engg (DME), has identified a technique that side-steps these problems… 3/n
Techno-commercial evaluation of 3 shortlisted bids seeking the contract for manufacturing 5 #PSLVs — @isro workhorse for nearly 30yrs — has been done by @NSIL_India. This takes process of industry building it one step closer to realisation. 1/n
@NSIL_India is now working out work-share modalities and thereby, the costing. A crucial meeting is expected to be scheduled this week, following which the price bids will be opened before the awarding of the contract. 2/n
As reported by me earlier, the three entities are: A consortium of HAL and L&T; a consortium comprising BEL, Adani-led Alpha Design and BEML, and the third is BHEL which is competing as a single firm. 3/n
#Thread with details on today's #SSLV test & more:
Clearing the decks for the first flight of #SSLV, @isro today successfully carried out the ground testing of the newly developed solid booster stage (SS1) at SHAR. 1/n
The test happened at around 12.05pm. “This is the last test before the flight (developmental flight),” S Unnikrishnan Nair, director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), which is developing the SSLV, told me. 2/n
@isro will now schedule the first developmental flight which will put into orbit #EOS2 or #Microsat. While an official date for the developmental flight is yet to be arrived at, multiple scientists say it is expected to happen in the first half of this year. 3/n
There are some key developments unravelling related to some important missions/projects by @isro in the coming weeks. I'll soon be putting out something on #Chandrayaan3#RLVLEX (reusable launch vehicle landing experiment) & #SSLV.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (@isro), which has already completed its first successful launch this year, is getting busy with a slew of key tests pertaining to three important missions/projects in the coming weeks, aside from a launch mission. 2/n
While the #PSLV mission is scheduled to launch EOS-6 or #Oceansat3 in the early part of April, important tests under the #SSLV and #RLV programmes have been lined up in the weeks preceding and following that. A #Chandrayaan3 landing test too is scheduled in March. 3/n
#JUSTIN | Senior @isro scientist S Unnikrishnan Nair has taken charge as the director of #VSSC. Nair will continue to also hold the position of director, #HSFC (Human Space Flight Centre) that is spearheading the #Gaganyaan programme. 1/n
He has B.Tech in mechanical engineering from Kerala University, ME in Aerospace engg from @iiscbangalore, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from @iitmadras. 2/n
“Some missions will be taken up on priority. SSLV will come in April, Gaganyaan test vehicle missions will be this year, and we are looking at #chandrayaan3. These are immediate goals. We'll continue with overall Gaganyaan activities and other projects," Nair told me. 3/n