Cryogenic Boost to Indian Space Commerce
31 Jan, 2000 · 318
Wg Cdr N. K. Pant argues for steady investment in the field of space technology
The scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), using a low- key, low cost approach have fabricated a series of satellites and their launch vehicles. They are hoping to repeat the feat by testing a cryogenic upper stage engine. The test charts out an ambitious path for satellite launches in the coming years in a commercial bonanza for our nascent space organisation.
India
desperately needs the cryogenic engines, the high performance rocket engines for the final stage of its Geo-stationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV) required to hurl communication satellites into high orbits to synchronise with the rotation of the earth. The engines were intended for the propulsion of the GSLV. It is a three stage vehicle – the first stage being a 129 tonne solid propellant core motor with four liquid propellant strap-ons, second stage is a liquid propulsion system with 37.5 tonne propellant and finally a cryogenic upper stage with 12 tonnes of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The final stage of highly sophisticated engines uses liquid hydrogen at an incredible temperature of minus 253 degree Celsius to harness its energy for rocket propulsion.
India
had entered a $350 million contract agreement with
Russia
in 1990 to supply four engines and the technology for their manufacture within the country. But ISRO’s plans to launch the GSLV were delayed when
Russia
under extreme
US
pressure was forced to suspend the deal in 1994. This denial in fact became a blessing in disguise by offering a challenge to the Indian scientists to prove their mettle. The successful fabrication of
India
’s first cryogenic engine by ISRO engineers has nullified American efforts to scuttle the Indian rocket development programme. The GSLV designed to lift a 3000 kg satellite into orbit, would ultimately help
India
carve for itself a niche in the multi billion dollar satellite launch market and could therefore offer stiff competition to the select few in the field of commercial satellite launches in the space.
Germany
and
South Korea
in May 1999. The PSLV is available to the international users for launching 1000—1200 kg of remote sensing satellites into orbits. The series of successful PSLV launches has already generated a sense of confidence amongst the prospective foreign clients desirous of availing the Indian space organisation’s reasonably priced satellite launch facilities. These will be definitely augmented after the completion of GSLV programme
India
as tomorrow’s “knowledge superpower”. The credit for this goes to a devoted band of scientists, engineers and technicians who have been quietly busy in laying the necessary foundations all these years despite limited resources.
India
’s space budget for 1997-98 was just $300 million. The organisation has already established a strong partnership with Indian industry benefiting more than 500 industries which supply hardware and undertake fabrication jobs. It has thus spread sophisticated technological base within the country. The moral of the story is that investments in futuristic high technology sectors such as space will certainly bring in handsome returns in coming years of the twenty first century. Not only will our scientists keep abreast with the latest developments in high-technology with associated commercial gains, but it will also result in the gainful fallout in nation’s defence and security areas.
Although ISRO’s primary aim in developing the GSLV as well as the presently operational smaller PSLV was to have an independent launch capability, it had kept in mind on the commercial aspects of its space related activities. Its PSLV project has recorded straight successes including the launch of IRS--ID in September 1997 into polar sun synchronous orbit followed by the launch of multiple satellites comprising the Oceansat and two space vehicles belonging to
ISRO leadership had foreseen the far reaching benefits from space research and set up its commercial wing named Antrix Corporation, an autonomous body where one could get almost anything related to space technology. SI—EOSAT, a US company, already receives and markets world wide data received from Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites under a commercial contract with Antrix Corporation. It had projected its know how in fabricating communication satellites on lines of INSAT for the fast growing international market. It also commercially offers the spare transponder capacity of the INSAT series to the satellite TV operators for up-linking and relaying television programmes.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has termed
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