21 Sep

Innovation in Space Technology in last 60 years

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Content

• Introduction
• Key innovation achievements by ISRO

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Introduction:

• On 21^st Nov 1963, the first rocket took off from Thumba, a fishing hamlet near Thiruvananthapuram, announcing birth of India’s space program. The then rocket, payload, radar, and computer all that was required for the first launch, came from outside the country.
• But, since then, leveraging key resources, ISRO has made several strides in space technologies, making India a major player in global space arena.

Key innovation achievements by ISRO can be divided into following categories:

• Space Transportation System:
  • 1970s marked the beginning of space transportation system with the development of solid-propulsion-based Sounding Rockets which were capable of carrying 30 Kg of payload to a heigh of 120 km.
  • This was followed by Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV). These were the first generation and second generation launch vehicles of India.
  • The integration of solid and liquid propulsion and the development of various key technologies in the areas of aerodynamics, composites, mission simulations, materials, etc resulted into the development of 3^rd generation workhorse launch vehicle e., the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), with the capability of placing a 1700 kg payload into polar orbit.
  • The indigenous development of Cryogenic Propulsive Engine was another major leap forward which contributed to 4^th generation launch vehicle GSLV, which is capable of placing a 2500 kg payload in Geo-stationary transfer orbit (GTO).
  • The most advanced rocket that India has is the fourth generation GSLV-MK-III which is capable of launching 4000 kg of payload into GTO.
  • The latest member of India’s rocket family is the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), a 3-stage launch vehicle which has been made to provide fast track satellite launch services. It is capable of carrying 500 kg payload to 500 km planar orbit in a quick turn-around time.

• Satellite Technology:
  • Like the rocket system, the early 1970s were the formative years of the space infrastructure of ISRO as well.
  • First satellite of the country, ‘Aryabhatta’ was launched in 1975. Later experimental missions like Bhaskara and Apple were executed.
  • Momentum was gained by the Indigenous development of key technologies for spacecrafts like Advanced propulsion, Power Systems, Thermal Systems, Deployable Structures, Space Bus Systems, Communication Systems, Ground Infrastructure, Optical, microwave, scientific & communication payloads, unfurlable Antennas, High throughput satellite system, Multi-Spectral Optical Satellite Systems, High Resolution Cameras, Multi-wavelength observation of Universe etc. for self-reliance in spacecrafts technology.
  • Capability of Remote Sensing has grown from the coarse resolution of 1 km to the fine resolution 28 cm with day & night and all-weather radar capability.
  • Communication Transponders have also grown from a mere single unit to 317 numbers.
  • Now ISRO has the capability of making satellite weighing upto 6000 kg with 14 KW of operating power in various frequencies bands.
  • NAVIC satellite system has also provided us with satnav services.
  • Present Space Infrastructure includes 25 EOS, 22 CMS, 7 navigation satellites, 2 space science satellites and experimental, small and student satellites.

• Space Science and Inter-Planetary Mission:
  • ASTROSAT: It is a multiwavelength space astronomy mission, which has served astronomers from 50 different countries.
  • Moon Missions: Chandrayaan 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 have been the three moon missions so far. While Chandrayaan 1.0 showed ISRO’s capability to orbit moon, Chandrayaan 3.0 mission has made India the first country in the world to land on the south pole of the moon.
  • Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) – Mangalyaan launched in 2013, made India the first country to reach Mars in its very first attempt.

• Various Applications of Space technologies:

  • Space application is yet another vertical of the ISRO program, which has witnessed many technological innovations. A great deal of developments have taken place in ground infrastructure and imaging technologies. Ground technologies for tracking multiple objects in space, including the establishment of multi-object tracking radar, Polarimeteric Doppler Weather Radar, State of art advanced ground station for Earth Observation Satellites at Bharti Station, Antarctica, Multi-Frequency Earth Stations
  • Applications of Earth Observation:
    • National Security
    • Agriculture and Agro-Forestry
    • Disaster Management
    • Fishery
    • Land Use Land Cover (LULC)
    • Resource Mapping
    • Planning
    • Monitoring & Evaluation
    • Decision Support in various flagship programs of government.
  • Societal Applications as spin offs:
    • Ventricular assist devices; microprocessor-controlled limbs; and medical ventilators

• Human Space Exploration:
  • At present, ISRO is actively pursuing the maiden human spaceflight mission – Gaganyaan to send astronauts to space and safely return to earth.
  • Gaganyaan is a yet another very complex mission, involving development of major tech elements such as human-rated launch vehicles, crew escape system, crew management activities for the activities of humans onboard etc.

• Future:

  • Apart from above mentioned successes there are lots of futuristic innovations ISRO continues to work upon:
    • Reusable Launch Vehicles, Stage Recovery and Reuse, Vertical take-off-Vertical Landing
    • LOX-Methane Engine
    • Air Breathing/Hybrid Propulsion Engine
    • 3D Printing, AI, Space Robotics, Humanoid Robots
    • On Orbit Servicing
    • Advanced Material & Manufacturing
    • Miniaturized Avionics
    • Space Exploration and Space Tourism
    • Low temperature Energy Systems
    • Intelligent Satellite, Self-destructing Satellite

Conclusion:

Field of space technology has witnessed an unprecedented amount of innovation over the past few decades, and ISRO has played the role of a gravity organization to unlocking the secrets of the cosmos and advancing human knowledge. As we look towards the future, innovations in space technology will undoubtedly pave the way for new discoveries and advancements, opening up new frontiers of exploration and expanding our understanding of the universe.