JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) literally "National Research and Development Agency on Aerospace Research and Development") is the Japanese national aerospace and space agency.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
JAXA Logo

Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003.

JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and launch of satellites into orbit, and is involved in many more advanced missions such as asteroid exploration and possible human exploration of the Moon. Its motto is One JAXA and its corporate slogan is Explore to Realize

 

Key Description:


Headquarters: Chofu, Tokyo, Japan

Annual Budget: 18,270 crores JPY ($1.71 billion, 2017)

Parent Organisation: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Founded: 1 October 2003

Motto: One JAXA

Administrator: Hiroshi Yamakawa

Official Website: Japan Aerospace Agencies

Social Network: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram

 

History:


JAXA Kibo, the largest module of the ISS.
On 1 October 2003, three organizations were merged to form the new JAXA:

  • Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)
  • The National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL)
  • National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA)

JAXA was formed as an Independent Administrative Institution administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC).

Before the merger, ISAS was responsible for space and planetary research, while NAL was focused on aviation research.

NASDA, which was founded on 1 October 1969, had developed rockets, satellites, and also built the Japanese Experiment Module. The old NASDA headquarters were located at the current site of the Tanegashima Space Center, on Tanegashima Island, 115 kilometers south of Kyūshū. NASDA also trained the Japanese astronauts who flew with the US Space Shuttles.

The Basic Space Law was passed in 2008, and the jurisdictional authority of JAXA moved from MEXT to the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development (SHSD) in the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. In 2016, the National Space Policy Secretariat (NSPS) was set up the Cabinet.

Planning interplanetary research missions can take up to seven years, such as the ASTRO-E. Due to the lag time between these interplanetary events and mission planning time, opportunities to gain new knowledge about the cosmos might be lost. To prevent this, JAXA plans on using smaller, faster missions from 2010 onward.

In 2012, new legislation extended JAXA's remit from peaceful purposes only to include some military space development, such as missile early warning systems. Political control of JAXA passed from MEXT to the Prime Minister's Cabinet Office through a new Space Strategy Office.

 

Organisation:


JAXA is composed of the following organizations:

  • Space Technology Directorate I
  • Space Technology Directorate II
  • Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate
  • Research and Development Directorate
  • Aeronautical Technology Directorate
  • Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)
  • Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center

JAXA has research centers in many locations in Japan, and some offices overseas. Its headquarters are in Chōfu, Tokyo. It also has

  • Earth Observation Research Center (EORC), Tokyo
  • Earth Observation Center (EOC) in Hatoyama, Saitama
  • Noshiro Testing Center (NTC) in Noshiro, Akita – Established in 1962. It carries out development and testing of rocket engines.
  • Sanriku Balloon Center (SBC) – Balloons have been launched from this site since 1971.
  • Kakuda Space Center (KSPC) in Kakuda, Miyagi – Leads the development of rocket engines. Works mainly with development of liquid-fuel engines.
  • Sagamihara Campus (ISAS) – Development of experimental equipment for rockets and satellites. Also administrative buildings.
  • Tanegashima Space Center – currently the launch site for the H-IIA and H-IIB rockets.
  • Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) in Tsukuba. This is the center of Japan's space network. It is involved in research and development of satellites and rockets, and tracking and controlling of satellites. It develops experimental equipment for the Japanese Experiment Module ("Kibo"). Training of astronauts also takes place here. For International Space Station operations, the Japanese Flight Control Team is located at the Space Station Integration & Promotion Center (SSIPC) in Tsukuba. SSIPC communicates regularly with ISS crewmembers via S-band audio.
  • Uchinoura Space Center – currently the launch site for the Epsilon rocket.

 

Rockets:


JAXA uses the H-IIA (H "two" A) rocket from the former NASDA body and its variant H-IIB to launch engineering test satellites, weather satellites, etc. For science missions like X-ray astronomy, JAXA uses the Epsilon rocket. For experiments in the upper atmosphere JAXA uses the SS-520, S-520, and S-310 sounding rockets.

 

Completed Missions:


  • ASTRO-H X-Ray Astronomy Mission 2016 (failed)
    Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 1997-2015 (decommissioned)
  • Akebono Aurora Observation 1989–2015 (decommissioned)
  • Suzaku X-Ray Astronomy 2005-2015 (decommissioned)
  • ALOS Earth Observation 2006-2011 (decommissioned)
  • Akari, Infrared astronomy mission 2006–2011 (decommissioned)
  • Hayabusa Asteroid sample return mission 2003-2010 (decommissioned)
  • OICETS, Technology Demonstration 2005–2009 (decommissioned)
  • SELENE, Moon probe 2007–2009 (decommissioned)
  • Micro Lab Sat 1, Small engineering mission, launched 2002 (decommissioned)
  • HALCA, Space VLBI 1997–2005 (decommissioned)
  • Nozomi, Mars Mission 1998–2003 (failed)
  • MDS-1, Technology Demonstration 2002–2003 (decommissioned)
  • ADEOS 2 (Midori 2) Earth Observation 2002–2003 (lost)

 

Future Missions:


HTV-1: As JAXA shifted away from international efforts beginning in 2005, plans are developing for independent space missions, such as a proposed crewed mission to the Moon.

2009 and Beyond: On 23 February 2008 JAXA launched the Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite (WINDS), also called "KIZUNA." WINDS will facilitate experiments with faster Internet connections. The launch, using H-IIA launch vehicle 14, took place from the Tanegashima Space Center.

On 10 September 2009 the first H-IIB rocket was successfully launched, delivering the HTV-1 freighter to resupply the International Space Station.

In the year 2009 JAXA plans to launch the first satellite of the Quasi Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), a subsystem of the global positioning system (GPS). Two others are expected to follow later. If successful, one satellite will be in a zenith position over Japan full-time. The QZSS mission is the last scheduled major independent mission for JAXA, as no major civilian projects were funded after that for now. The only exception is the IGS programme which will be continued beyond 2008. However it seems Japan is pressing forward now with the GCOM earth observation satellites as successors to the ADEOS missions. First launch is planned for 2010. In 2009 Japan also plans to launch a new version of the IGS with an improved resolution of 60 cm.

Launch Schedule: The maiden flight of the H-IIB and the HTV occurred in 1 September 2009. After the first flight, one HTV launch is scheduled during each FY until 2019. (If not mentioned otherwise launch vehicle for the following missions is the H-IIA.)

FY 2019

  • Optical Data Relay satellite
  • Advanced Optical satellite
  • Nano-JASMINE

FY 2020

  • Advanced Radar Satellite
  • QZS-1 Successor)

FY 2021

  • XRISM
  • SLIM, pinpoint lunar lander
  • HTV-X

FY 2022

  • DESTINY+, small-scale technology demonstrator which will also conduct scientific observation of asteroid 3200
  • Phaethon (LV: Epsilon)
  • IGS-7 (Radar)
  • GOSAT-3

FY 2023

  • QZS-5
  • QZS-6
  • QZS-7
  • IGS-8 (Opitcal)
  • IGS-8 (Radar)

FY 2024

  • MMX, remote sensing of Deimos, sample return from

FY 2025

  • IGS-9 (Opitcal)

FY 2026

  • LiteBIRD, a mission to study CMB B-mode polarization and cosmic inflation based at L2
  • Small-JASMINE (LV: Epsilon)

FY 2028

  • Comet Interceptor (ESA led mission, Japan provides one of the secondary spacecrafts)

 

Other Missions:

For the 2022 ESA EarthCARE mission, JAXA will provide the radar system on the satellite. JAXA will provide the Auroral Electron Sensor (AES) for the Taiwanese FORMOSAT-5.

  • XEUS: joint X-Ray telescope with ESA, originally planned for launch after 2015. Cancelled and replaced by ATHENA.

 

Proposals:

  • Human Lunar Systems, conceptual system study on the future human lunar outpost
  • JASMINE, a series of astrometric telescopes similar to the Gaia mission but operating in the infra-red (2.2 µm) and specifically targeting the Galactic plane and centre, where Gaia's results are impaired by dust absorption.
  • OKEANOS, a mission to Jupiter and Trojan asteroids utilizing "hybrid propulsion" of solar sail and ion engines
  • SPICA, a 2.5 meter infrared telescope to be placed at L2
  • FORCE, small-scale hard x-ray observation with high sensitivity
  • DIOS, small-scale x-ray observation mission to survey warm–hot intergalactic medium
  • APPROACH, small-scale lunar penetrator mission
  • HiZ-GUNDAM, small-scale gamma ray burst observation mission
  • EUVST, solar observation
  • B-DECIGO, gravity wave observation test mission
  • SELENE-R, a Moon-landing mission
  • Hayabusa Mk2/Marco Polo
  • Space Solar Power System (SSPS), space-based solar power prototype launch in 2020, aiming for a full-power system in 2030

 

Human Space Program:


Japan has ten astronauts but has not yet developed its own crewed spacecraft and is not currently developing one officially. A potentially crewed space shuttle-spaceplane HOPE-X project launched by the conventional space launcher H-II was developed for several years (including test flights of HYFLEX/OREX prototypes) but was postponed.

The simpler crewed capsule Fuji was proposed but not adopted. Projects for single-stage to orbit, horizontal takeoff reusable launch vehicle and landing ASSTS and the vertical takeoff and landing Kankoh-maru also exist but have not been adopted.

The first Japanese citizen to fly in space was Toyohiro Akiyama, a journalist sponsored by TBS, who flew on the Soviet Soyuz TM-11 in December 1990. He spent more than seven days in space on the Mir space station, in what the Soviets called their first commercial spaceflight which allowed them to earn $14 million.

Japan participates in US and international crewed space programs including flights of Japanese astronauts on Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS. One Space Shuttle mission (STS-47) in September 1992 was partially funded by Japan. This flight included JAXA's first astronaut in space, Mamoru Mohri, as the Payload Specialist for the Spacelab-J, one of the European built Spacelab modules. This mission was also designated Japan.

A view of the completed Kibo module of the ISS.
Three other NASA Space Shuttle missions (STS-123, STS-124, STS-127) in 2008–2009 delivered parts of the Japanese built spacelab-module Kibo to ISS.

JAXA - Japan Sapace Agencies
JAXA plans for heavenly views from broadcast studio on the ISS

Japanese plans for a crewed lunar landing were in development but were shelved in early 2010 due to budget constraints.

In June 2014 Japan's science and technology ministry said it was considering a space mission to Mars. In a ministry paper it indicated uncrewed exploration, crewed missions to Mars and long-term settlement on the Moon were objectives, for which international cooperation and support was going to be sought.

On 18 October 2017, Japanese discovery of a "tunnel" under the surface of the Moon has led to press-release. The tunnel seems suitable as a location for a base-of-operations for peaceful crewed space missions, according to JAXA.

 

Supersonic Aircraft Development:


Besides the H-IIA/B and Epsilon rockets, JAXA is also developing technology for a next-generation supersonic transport that could become the commercial replacement for the Concorde. The design goal of the project (working name Next Generation Supersonic Transport) is to develop a jet that can carry 300 passengers at Mach 2. A subscale model of the jet underwent aerodynamic testing in September and October 2005 in Australia.

In 2015 JAXA performed tests aimed at reducing the effects of super sonic flight under the D-SEND program. The economic success of such a project is still unclear, and as a consequence the project has been met with limited interest from Japanese aerospace companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries so far.

VSSC: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is a major space research centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), focusing on rocket and space vehicles for India's satellite programme. It is located in Thiruvananthapuram, in the Indian state of Kerala.

The centre had its beginnings as the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1962. It was renamed in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often regarded as the father of the Indian space program.

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is one of the main research and development establishments within ISRO. VSSC is an entirely indigenous facility working on the development of sounding rockets, the Rohini and Menaka launchers, and SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk III families of launch vehicles.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Campus
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Campus

 

Key Description of VSSC:


Formed: 21 November 1963; 56 years ago

Jurisdiction: Department of Space

Headquarters: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Annual Budget: See the budget of ISRO

Agency executive: S Somanath, Director

Parent Agency: ISRO

Website: Home Page

 

 

History:


The space centre is the largest among the ISRO facilities. It is a centre for the design and development of satellite launch vehicles and associated technologies.

The centre pursues research and development in a host of distinct technology domains including aeronautics, avionics, and composites, primarily for the purpose of advancing the development of launch vehicle technology in India.

After incorporation of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962, its first act was the establishment of the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) at Thumba, in Thiruvananthapuram.

Thumba was picked as the launch site for sounding rockets for meteorological and upper atmospheric research due to its location on the geomagnetic equator.

21 November 1963 marked India's first venture into space, with the launch of a two-stage Nike Apache sounding rocket from TERLS.

The first rockets launched were built in United States.

The first Indian designed and built rocket, RH-75, made its maiden flight on 20 November 1967. This was the 52nd launch of a sounding rocket from TERLS.

It was flown twice again in 1967 and another 12 times in 1968, making a total of 15 RH-75 flights.

Among the sounding rockets to have flown from TERLS were Arcas-1, Arcas-11, Centaure-1, 11A and 11B, Dragon-1, Dual Hawk, Judy Dart, Menaka-1, Menaka-1Mk 1 and Mk11, Nike Tomahawk, M-100, Petrel, RH-100, RH-125, RH-200 (S), RH-300, variants of RH-560, etc. There have been a total of nearly 2200 sounding rocket launches from TERLS, so far.

Over the years VSSC has designed, developed and launched a family of sounding rockets under the generic name, Rohini Sounding Rockets (RSR) to serve a range of scientific missions. The currently operational Rohini Sounding Rockets are RH-200, RH-300, RH-560 and their different versions.

These sounding rockets are launched for carrying out research in areas like meteorology and upper atmospheric processes up to an altitude of about 500 km.

TERLS was formally dedicated to the United Nations on 2 February 1968, by then Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

Although no direct funding from the UN was involved, scientists from several countries including United States, Russia (former USSR), France, Japan, Germany and UK continue to utilize the TERLS facility for conducting rocket based experiments. Over 1161 USSR meteorological sounding rockets called M-100 were launched from TERLS every week from 1970 until 1993.

After the sudden demise of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai on 30 December 1971, TERLS and associated space establishments at Thiruvananthapuram were renamed as the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in his honour.

In the early 1980s, VSSC was instrumental in the development of India's Satellite Launch Vehicle program, SLV-3. This was followed in the late 1980s with the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), for launching 150 kg satellites into near earth orbits.

In the 1990s, VSSC contributed to the development of India's workhorse launch vehicle, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

 

List of Directors of VSSC:

 

Name of Director Tenure
Dr. K Sivan 2015-2018
Shri M C Dathan 2014-2015
Dr S Ramakrishnan 2013-2014
Shri P S Veeraraghavan 2009-2012
Dr K Radhakrishnan 2007-2009
Dr B N Suresh 2003-2007
Dr G Madhavan Nair 1999-2003
Dr S Srinivasan 1994-1999
Shri Pramod Kale Feb-Nov 1994
Dr Suresh Chandra Gupta 1985-1994
Dr Vasant R Gowariker 1979-1985
Dr. Brahm Prakash 1972-1979

 

Programs of VSSC:


Over the last four decades VSSC has become the leading centre for development of launch vehicle technology.

VSSC has a matrix organization based on Projects and Entities. Core project teams manage project activities. System level activities of the projects are carried out by system development agencies.

Major programmes of VSSC include the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), Rohini Sounding Rockets, Space Capsule Recovery Experiment, Reusable Launch Vehicles and Air Breathing Propulsion.

VSSC pursues research and development in the fields of aeronautics, avionics, composites, computer and information technology, control guidance and simulation, launch vehicle design, mechanical engineering, mechanisms vehicle integration and testing, propellants polymers and materials, propulsion propellants and space ordnance, and systems reliability.

These research Entities are the system development agencies for the Projects and thus provide for the realization of the project objectives. Management systems area provides for programme planning and evaluation, human resource development, budget and manpower, technology transfer, documentation and outreach activities.

VSSC is certified for compliance to ISO 9001:2000 quality management system. The quality objectives of the Centre are planning, implementing and maintaining a quality system during design, development, production, and operation of subsystems and systems for launch vehicles. It also aims at achieving continued improvement in process for its zero defect goal.

ISRO has developed an array of sounding rockets and four generations of launch vehicles and thus establishing operational space transportation system. Most of launch vehicle development is carried out at VSSC.

Current focus of VSSC is on the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), the GSLV Mk III and the Reusable Launch Vehicle- Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD).

In January 2007, the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment Module (SRE-1) was safely brought back to earth after 10 days in orbit. This involved a host of technologies developed at VSSC, including thermal protection systems to withstand the large heat flux of atmospheric re-entry.

VSSC made significant contribution to India's maiden mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-1.

VSSC R&D efforts have included solid propellant formulations. Another focus area has been navigation systems; the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) established at Vattiyoorkavu is a part of VSSC.

VSSC is involved in the development of air-breathing vehicles. A reusable launch vehicle technology demonstrator is under development, which will be tested soon.

VSSC also has programs focused on applications of space technology including village resource centres, telemedicine, tele-education, disaster management support and outreach through Direct To Home television broadcast.

BARC: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

What is BARC?


The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India's premier nuclear research facility, headquartered in Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)

BARC is a multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for advanced research and development covering the entire spectrum of nuclear science, engineering and related areas.

BARC's core mandate is to sustain peaceful applications of nuclear energy, primarily for power generation.

It manages all facets of nuclear power generation, from theoretical design of reactors to, computerized modelling and simulation, risk analysis, development and testing of new reactor fuel materials, etc. It also conducts research in spent fuel processing and safe disposal of nuclear waste. Its other research focus areas are applications for isotopes in industries, medicine, agriculture, etc. BARC operates a number of research reactors across the country.

 

Key Description of BARC:


Abbreviation: BARC

Motto: Atoms in the service of the Nation

Formation: January 3, 1954

Founder: Homi J. Bhabha

Purpose: Nuclear research

Headquarters: Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Director: Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty

Parent Organisation: Department of Atomic Energy

Budget: ₹3,159 crore (US$440 million) (2015–2016)

Official Website

Formerly called: Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay

 

History of BARC:


The Government of India created the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) with Homi J. Bhabha as the founding director on 3 January 1954.

It was established to consolidate all the research and development activity for nuclear reactors and technology under the Atomic Energy Commission.

All scientists and engineers engaged in the fields of reactor designing and development, instrumentation, metallurgy and material science etc., were transferred with their respective programmes from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) to AEET, with TIFR retaining its original focus for fundamental research in the sciences. After Homi Jehangir Bhabha's death in 1966, who is also known as the "Father of Indian Nuclear Programme", the centre was renamed as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre on 22 January 1967.

The first reactors at BARC and its affiliated power generation centres were imported from the west. India's first power reactors, installed at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station were from the United States.

The primary importance of BARC is as a research centre. The BARC and the Indian government has consistently maintained that the reactors are used for this purpose only: Apsara (1956; named by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru when he likened the blue Cerenkov radiation to the beauty of the Apsaras), CIRUS (1960; the "Canada-India Reactor" with assistance from the US), the now-defunct ZERLINA (1961; Zero Energy Reactor for Lattice Investigations and Neutron Assay), Purnima I (1972), Purnima II (1984), Dhruva (1985), Purnima III (1990), and KAMINI.

The plutonium used in India's 1974 Smiling Buddha nuclear test came from CIRUS.

The 1974 test (and the 1998 tests that followed) gave Indian scientists the technological know-how and confidence not only to develop nuclear fuel for future reactors to be used in power generation and research, but also the capacity to refine the same fuel into weapons-grade fuel to be used in the development of nuclear weapons.

BARC also designed and built India's first Pressurised water reactor at Kalpakkam, a 80MW land based prototype of INS Arihant's nuclear power unit, as well as the Arihant's propulsion reactor.

 

India And the NPT:


India is not a part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), citing concerns that it unfairly favors the established nuclear powers, and provides no provision for complete nuclear disarmament.

Indian officials argued that India's refusal to sign the treaty stemmed from its fundamentally discriminatory character; the treaty places restrictions on the non-nuclear weapons states but does little to curb the modernization and expansion of the nuclear arsenals of the nuclear weapons states.

More recently, India and the United States signed an agreement to enhance nuclear cooperation between the two countries, and for India to participate in an international consortium on fusion research, ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor).

 

SDSC: Satish Dhawan Space Centre

About SDSC


Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) or Sriharikota Range (SHAR) is a rocket launch centre operated by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is located in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Sriharikota Range was renamed in 2002 after ISRO's former chairman Satish Dhawan.

SDSC's current director is Arumugam Rajarajan. He took over from S. Pandian in July 2019.

Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC)

 

Key Description of SDSC:


Formed: 1 October 1971; 48 years ago

Jurisdiction: Government of India

Headquarters: Sriharikota, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India

Employees: Unknown

Annual Budget: See the budget of ISRO

Agency Executive: A.Rajarajan, Director

Parent Agency: ISRO

Phone: 086232 25050

Official Website: www.shar.gov.in

 

History of SDSC:


Sriharikota island was chosen in 1969 for a satellite launching station. The centre became operational in 1971 when an RH-125 sounding rocket was launched.

The first attempted launch of an orbital satellite, Rohini 1A aboard a Satellite's Launch Vehicle, took place on 10 August 1979, but due to a failure in thrust vectoring of the rocket's second stage, the satellite's orbit decayed on 19 August 1979.

SHAR was named as 'Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR' (SDSC), on 5 September 2002, in memory of Satish Dhawan, former Chairman of the ISRO.

The SHAR facility now consists of two launch pads, with the second built in 2005. The second launch pad was used for launches beginning in 2005 and is a universal launch pad, accommodating all of the launch vehicles used by ISRO.

The two launch pads will allow multiple launches in a single year, which was not possible earlier. India's lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-1 launched from the centre at 6:22 AM IST on 22 October 2008.

India's first Mars orbiter Mangalyaan was launched from the centre on 5 November 2013, which was successfully placed into Mars orbit on 24 September 2014.

Initially under Indian Human Spaceflight Programme existing launch facilities will be augmented to meet the target of launching a crewed spacecraft called Gaganyaan.

 

Location of SDSC:


Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) is located in Sriharikota, a spindle-shaped barrier island on the east coast of Andhra Pradesh. Features like a good launch azimuth corridor for various missions, nearness to the equator (benefiting eastward launches), and large uninhabited area for a safety zone make it an ideal spaceport.

SHAR covers a total area of about 145 km2 (56 sq mi) with a coastal length of 27 km (17 mi). Prior to its acquisition for ISRO by the Indian Government, it was a firewood plantation of Eucalyptus and Casuarina trees.

This island is affected by both south-westerly and north-easterly monsoons, but heavy rains come only in October and November. Thus many clear days are available for out-door static tests and launching.

SHAR is linked to Sullurupeta by a road across Pulicat Lake. Sullurupeta has connectivity with other parts of India by Indian Railways and is on a National Highway 5 (India) that connects it to Chennai (about 83 km (52 mi) south) and Kolkata.

 

Launch History of SDSC:


Originally known as the Sriharikota Range (SHAR) and later named after Satish Dhawan. It is India's primary orbital launch site to this day.

First flight-test of 'Rohini-125', a small sounding rocket which took place on 9 October 1971 was the first ever rocket launch from SHAR.

Since then technical, logistic and administrative infrastructure have been enhanced. Together with the northerly Balasore Rocket Launching Station, the facilities are operated under the ISRO Range Complex (IREX) headquartered at SHAR.

Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV): The range became operational when three Rohini 125 sounding rockets were launched on 9 and 10 October 1971.

Previously, India used Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), at Thiruvananthapuram, on the south-western coast of India, to launch sounding rockets.

The first test launch of the complete SLV-3 rocket occurred in August 1979 but it was only partially successful following a malfunction in the second-stage guidance system.

SHAR facilities worked satisfactorily during the SLV-3 preparation and launch. On 18 July 1980 the SLV-3 successfully launched India's third satellite. Out of the four SLV launches from SHAR, two were successful.

Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV): The ASLV orbital launcher was integrated vertically, beginning with motor and subassembly preparations in the Vehicle Integration Building (VIB) and completed on the pad within the 40 m tall Mobile Service Structure.

The first ASLV launch from SHAR took place in 1987 and resulted in a failure. Eventually, out the four ASLV launches from 1987–94, only one was successful.

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV): The PSLV launch complex was commissioned during 1990. It has a 3,000 tonne, 76.5 m high Mobile Service Tower (MST) which provides the SP-3 payload clean room.

The solid propellant motors for the PSLV are processed by SHAR, which also carries out launch operations. The first launch of the PSLV took place on 20 September 1993.

 

Launch Pads of SDSC:


SLV Launch Pad: This launch pad was used by the Satellite Launch Vehicle and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle is located at the southern tip of the current launch site. It has been decommissioned. Initially it was built for launching SLV-3 but was later augmented to be used as an ASLV launch complex.

First Launch Pad (FLP): The modern First Launch Pad was built in the early 1990s for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. It has also been used by the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle.

The First Launch Pad is undergoing major expansion with PIF (PSLV Integration Facilities) project worth 475 crores. Once complete, the First Launch Pad is expected to cater to around 15 launches per year.

Second Launch Pad (SLP): Second Launch Complex became operational in 2005 and unlike First Launch Pad operates on philosophy of Integrate Transfer & Launch.

SLP is configured as a universal launch pad capable of accommodating PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk III launch vehicles of ISRO.

In addition to the Vehicle Assembly building (VAB), a Solid Stage Assembly Building (SSAB) was constructed for assembly of S200 strapons of GSLV Mk III.

Augmented SSAB can now assemble first stages of PSLV and GSLV with VAB holding another rocket in parallel. A new Second Vehicle Assembly Building (SVAB) in the same complex is being constructed with a budgetary grant of 630 crores and is expected to be ready in mid 2018.

Third Launch Pad (TLP): A Third Launch Pad is planned at a cost of Rs 6 billion and would be capable of supporting crewed missions as well.

 

 

HAL: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company headquartered in Bangalore (Bengaluru), India. It is governed under the management of the Indian Ministry of Defence.

The government-owned corporation is primarily involved in the operations of the aerospace and is currently involved in the design, fabrication and assembly of aircraft, jet engines, helicopters and their spare parts.

It has several facilities spread across India including Bangalore, Nasik, Korwa, Kanpur, Koraput, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Kasaragod. The HAL HF-24 Marut fighter-bomber was the first fighter aircraft made in India.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

 

Key Description of HAL:


Founder: Walchand Hirachand

Founded: 23 December 1940, Bengaluru, (As Hindustan Aircraft)
1964; 56 years ago, (Renamed Hindustan Aeronautics)

Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Revenue: 21,100 crores INR (US$3.0 billion, 2019–2020)

Subsidiaries: International Aerospace Manufacturing Pvt Ltd,

Parent Organization: India

Type: Public Sector Undertaking

Industry: Aerospace and Defence

Key People:

  • R Madhavan, (Chairman and Managing director)

Products

  • Transport Aircraft
  • Fighter aircraft
  • Helicopters

Revenue: Increase ₹21,100 crore (US$3.0 billion)[3] (2019/20)

Operating Income: Increase ₹3,295 crore (US$460 million (2017/18)

Net Income: Increase₹2,692.5 crore (US$380 million) (2014)

Total Assets: ₹73,898.42 crore (US$10 billion) (2015)

Total Equity: ₹85,014.64 crore (US$12 billion) (2015)

Number of Employees: 32,109 (April 2015)

Official Website

Social Network: Twitter

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

 

History of HAL:


HAL was established as Hindustan Aircraft Limited in Bangalore on 23 December 1940 by Walchand Hirachand who became Chairman of the company. The company's office was opened at a bungalow called "Eventide" on Domlur Road.

The organisation and equipment for the factory at Bangalore was set up by William D. Pawley of the Intercontinental Aircraft Corporation of New York. Pawley obtained a large number of machine-tools and equipment from the United States.

The Indian Government bought a one-third stake in the company and by April 1941 by investing 25 lakhs as it believed this to be a strategic imperative.

The decision by the government was primarily motivated to boost British military hardware supplies in Asia to counter the increasing threat posed by Imperial Japan during Second World War.

The Kingdom of Mysore supplied two directors, Air Marshal John Higgins was resident director. The first aircraft built was a Harlow PC-5

On 2 April 1942, the government announced that the company had been nationalised when it had bought out the stakes of Seth Walchand Hirachand and other promoters so that it could act freely. The Mysore Kingdom refused to sell its stake in the company but yielded the management control over to the Indian Government.

The total number of broad- gauge coaches manufactured by the Hindustan Aircraft Limited during the year 1954 is 158.

In 1943 the Bangalore factory was handed over to the United States Army Air Forces but still using Hindustan Aircraft management.

The factory expanded rapidly and became the centre for major overhaul and repair of American aircraft and was known as the 84th Air Depot.

The first aircraft to be overhauled was a Consolidated PBY Catalina followed by every type of aircraft operated in India and Burma. When returned to Indian control two years later the factory had become one of the largest overhaul and repair organisations in the East. In the post war reorganization the company built railway carriages as an interim activity.

After India gained independence in 1947, the management of the company was passed over to the Government of India.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was formed on 1 October 1964 when Hindustan Aircraft Limited joined the consortium formed in June by the IAF Aircraft Manufacturing Depot, Kanpur (at the time manufacturing HS748 under licence) and the group recently set up to manufacture MiG-21 under licence, with its new factories planned in Koraput, Nasik and Hyderabad.

Though HAL was not used actively for developing newer models of fighter jets, except for the HF-24 Marut, the company has played a crucial role in modernisation of the Indian Air Force.

In 1957 company started manufacturing Bristol Siddeley Orpheus jet engines under licence at new factory located in Bangalore.

During the 1980s, HAL's operations saw a rapid increase which resulted in the development of new indigenous aircraft such as the HAL Tejas and HAL Dhruv.

HAL also developed an advanced version of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, known as MiG-21 Bison, which increased its life-span by more than 20 years. HAL has also obtained several multimillion-dollar contracts from leading international aerospace firms such as Airbus, Boeing and Honeywell to manufacture aircraft spare parts and engines.

By 2012, HAL was reportedly bogged down in the details of production and has been slipping on its schedules.[9] On 1 April 2015, HAL reconstituted its Board with TS Raju as CMD, S Subrahmanyan as Director (Operations), VM Chamola as Director (HR), CA Ramana Rao as Director (Finance) and D K Venkatesh as Director (Engineering & R&D). There are two government nominees in the board and six independent directors.

In March 2017, HAL Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju announced that the company had finalised plans for an indigenisation drive.

The company plans to produce nearly 1, 000 military helicopters, including Kamov 226, LCH (Light Combat Helicopter) ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter), and over 100 planes over the next 10 years.

HAL will manufacture the Kamov 226T helicopter under a joint venture agreement with Russian defence manufacturers. The Kamov 226T will replace the country's fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

Over the next 5 years, HAL will carry out major upgrade of almost the entire fighter fleet of Indian Air Force including Su-30MKI, Jaguars, Mirage and Hawk jets to make them "more lethal". The company will also deliver 123 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft to the IAF from 2018–19, at a rate of 16 jets per year.

LCH production will now take place in a newly built Light Combat Helicopter Production Hangar at Helicopter Division in HAL Complex.

In view of Make in India policy and to increase the share of defence exports to achieve the target of $5 billion dollars by 2025, HAL is planning to setup logistic bases in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam with priority target for Southeast Asia, West Asia and North African markets. It would not only help to promote HAL products but also act as service centre for Soviet/Russian origin equipment.

 

Operations of HAL:


One of the largest aerospace companies in Asia, HAL has annual turnover of over US$2 billion. More than 40% of HAL's revenues come from international deals to manufacture aircraft engines, spare parts, and other aircraft materials. A partial list of major operations undertaken by HAL includes the following:

International Agreements

  • The US$35 billion fifth-generation fighter jet programme with the Sukhoi Corporation of Russia.
  • US$1 billion contract to manufacture aircraft parts for Boeing.
  • Multi-role transport aircraft project with Ilyushin of Russia worth US$600 million.
  • 120 RD-33MK turbofan engines to be manufactured for MiG-29K by HAL for US$250 million.
  • Contract to manufacture 1, 000 TPE331 aircraft engines for Honeywell worth US$200, 000 each (estimates put total value of deal at US$200 million).
  • US$120 million deal to manufacture Dornier 228 for RUAG of Switzerland.
  • Manufacture of aircraft parts for Airbus SAS worth US$150 million.
  • US$100 million contract to export composite materials to Israel Aircraft Industries.
  • US$65 million joint-research facility with Honeywell and planned production of Garrett TPE331 engines.
  • US$50.7 million contract to supply Advanced Light Helicopter to Ecuadorian Air Force. HAL will also open a maintenance base in the country.
  • US$30 million contract to supply avionics for Malaysian Su-30MKM.
  • US$20 million contract to supply ambulance version of HAL Dhruv to Peru.
  • Contract of 3 HAL Dhruv helicopters from Turkey worth US$20 million.
  • US$10 million order from Namibia for HAL Chetak and Cheetah helicopters.
  • Supply of HAL Dhruv helicopters to Mauritius' National Police in a deal worth US$7 million.
  • Unmanned helicopter development project with Israel Aircraft Industries.

Domestic agreements:

  • 220 Sukhoi Su-30MKI being manufactured at HAL's facilities in Nasik, Koraput and Bangalore. The total contract, which also involves Russia's Sukhoi Aerospace, is worth US$3.2 billion.
  • 200 HAL Light Combat Helicopters for the Indian Air Force and 500 HAL Dhruv helicopters worth US$5.83 billion.
  • US$900 million aerospace hub in Andhra Pradesh.
  • US$57 million upgrade of SEPECAT Jaguar fleet of the Indian Air Force.
  • US$55 million helicopter simulator training facility in Bangalore in collaboration with Canada's CAE.
  • 64 MiG-29s to be upgraded by HAL and Russia's MiG Corporation in a programme worth US$960 million.
  • Licensed production of 82 BAe Hawk 132.

 

Indigenous Products:


Agricultural Aircraft

  • HA-31 Basant

Fighter Aircraft

  • HF-24 Marut — Mk.1 and Mk.1T
  • Tejas — Mk.1, Mk.1A, NLCA Mk.1 and NLCA Mk.2
  • Tejas Mk.2 (MWF)[40] — Medium weight fighter (under development).
  • AMCA — Fifth generation stealth fighter (under development).

Helicopters:

  • Dhruv — Advanced Light Helicopter
  • Rudra — Attack helicopter
  • Light Combat Helicopter — Attack helicopter
  • Light Utility Helicopter (under trial)
  • Indian Multi-role Helicopter (under development)

DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation

About DRDO


The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is an agency of the Government of India, charged with the military's research and development, headquartered in Delhi, India.

It was formed in 1958 by the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the Indian Ordnance Factories with the Defence Science Organisation. It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

With a network of 52 laboratories, which are engaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval systems, DRDO is India's largest and most diverse research organisation.

The organisation includes around 5,000 scientists belonging to the Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS) and about 25,000 other scientific, technical and supporting personnel.

 

Key Description of DRDO:


Headquarters Location: DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi

Founded: 1958

Minister responsible: Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence

Number of Employees: 30,000 (5000 scientists)

Subsidiaries: Defence Scientific Information & Documentation centre, Gas Turbine Research Establishment

Motto Sanskrit: बलस्य मूलं विज्ञानम्
"Strength's Origin is in Science"

Annual Budget: ₹14,818.74 crore (US$2.1 billion)(2017-18)

Agency Executive: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman, DRDO
Parent agency Ministry of Defence

DRDO Official Website

 

Organization of DRDO:

 

Cluster Laboratories/Establishment

Laboratory Name Location Area of Research
Advanced Numerical Research & Analysis Group (ANURAG) Hyderabad Computational System
Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) Missiles & Strategic Systems
Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE) Agra Parachutes & Aerial Systems
Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) Bengaluru Aeronautics
Armaments Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) Pune Armaments
Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) Bengaluru Air-Borne Systems
Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIR) Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
Centre for Fire, Explosives & Environment Safety (CFEES) Delhi Explosives
Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) Hyderabad High Energy Weapons
Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) Chennai Combat Vehicles
Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) Bengaluru Avionics
Defence Bio-engineering & Electro-medical Laboratory (DEBEL) Bio-engineering
Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL) Dehradun Electronics & Communication Systems
Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) Mysore Food Research
Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER) Haldwani Bio-Energy
Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) Leh High Altitude Agro-animal Research
Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS) Delhi Physiology
Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) Psychological Research
Defence Laboratory (DL) Jodhpur Camouflaging and Isotopes
Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) Hyderabad Electronic Warfare
Defence Materials & Stores Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE) Kanpur Textiles, Polymers & Composites
Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) Hyderabad Metallurgy
Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE) Gwalior Chemical & Biological Warfare
Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) Hyderabad Missile & Strategic Systems
Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) Tezpur Health & Hygiene
Defence Terrain Research Laboratory (DTRL) Delhi Terrain Research
Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) Bengaluru Gas Turbine
High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) Pune High Energy Materials
Institute of Nuclear Medicines & Allied Sciences (INMAS) Delhi Nuclear Medicine
Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE) Dehradun Electronics & Optical Systems
Integrated Test Range (ITR) Balasore Missile & Strategic Systems
Joint Cipher Bureau (JCB) Delhi Cipher Systems
Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) Laser Technology
Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) Bengaluru Radars
Microwave Tube Research & Development Centre (MTRDC) Microwave Devices
Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) Ambernath Naval Materials
Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) Kochi Sonar Systems
Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) Visakhapatnam Underwater Weapons
Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) Balasore Armament Testing
Research Centre Imarat (RCI) Hyderabad Missile & Strategic Systems
Research & Development Establishment (Engrs) (R&DE(E)) Pune Engineering Systems & Weapon Platforms
Scientific Analysis Group (SAG) Delhi Cryptology
Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) Chandigarh Snow and Avalanche
Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL) Delhi Solid- State/ Semiconductor Materials
Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) Chandigarh Ballistics
Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE) Ahmednagar Wheeled Vehicles

 

HR Institutions:


Institution Name Location Area
Centre for Personnel Talent Management (CEPTAM) Delhi Talent Management
Institute of Technology Management (ITM) Mussoorie Technology Management
Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC) Delhi Human Resource

 

Other Institutions:


Institution Name Location Area of Research
Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials (ACEM) Nashik High Energy Materials
Centre for Advanced Systems (CAS) Hyderabad Advanced Systems
Centre for Military Air-worthiness & Certification (CEMILAC) Bengaluru Airworthiness & Certification
Defence Scientific Information & Documentation Centre (DESIDOC) Delhi Information System and Documentation
DRDO Integration Centre (DIC) Panagarh Systems Integration
Institute for Systems Studies & Analyses (ISSA) Delhi Systems Analysis
Mobile Systems Complex (MSC) Pune Missile Systems
SF Complex (SFC) Jagdalpur Propellant

 

Centres of Excellence:

Center Name Location Area of Research
DRDO Bharathiar University (DRDO-BU), Centre of Excellence Coimbatore Life Sciences
Advanced Centre for Research in High Energy Materials (ACRHEM) Hyderabad High Energy Materials
Centre of Excellence in Cryptology Kolkata Cryptology
Centre of Millimeter Wave Semiconductor Devices and Systems Kolkata Millimeter Wave and Semiconductor
Advanced Centre for Excellence on Composite Materials (ACECM) Bengaluru Composite Materials
Research and Innovation Centre (RIC) Chennai Sensors & MEMS
Centre of Propulsion Technology (CoPT) Mumbai Propulsion Technology
Jagdish Chandra Bose Centre for Advanced Technology (JCBCAT) Jadavpur Strategic Systems
Joint Advanced Technology Centre (JATC) Delhi Photonic Technologies, Plasmonics and Quantum Photonics
Centre of Excellence in Systems Design and Engineering Mumbai Systems Design

 

Projects: Aeronautics


Tejas - Light Combat Aircraft
Tejas - Light Combat Aircraft

The DRDO is responsible for the ongoing Light Combat Aircraft. The LCA is intended to provide the Indian Air Force with a modern, fly by wire, multi-role fighter, as well as develop the aviation industry in India.

The LCA programme has allowed DRDO to progress substantially in the fields of avionics, flight control systems, aircraft propulsion and composite structures, along with aircraft design and development.

The DRDO provided key avionics for the Sukhoi Su-30MKI programme under the "Vetrivel" programme. Systems developed by DRDO include radar warning receivers, radar and display computers. DRDO's radar computers, manufactured by HAL are also being fitted into Malaysian Su-30s.

The DRDO is part of the Indian Air Force's upgrade programmes for its MiG-27 and Sepecat Jaguar combat aircraft, along with the manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. DRDO and HAL have been responsible for the system design and integration of these upgrades, which combine indigenously developed systems along with imported ones. DRDO contributed subsystems like the Tarang radar warning receiver, Tempest jammer, core avionics computers, brake parachutes, cockpit instrumentation and displays.

HAL AMCA: Aeronautical Development Agency of DRDO is responsible for the design and development of the fifth-generation aircraft. In 2015, 700 ADA employees were working on the project along with 2,000 employees of DRDO.

AMCA Stealth Fighter Aircraft
AMCA Stealth Fighter Aircraft

 

Radars:


The DRDO has steadily increased its radar development. The result has been substantial progress in India's ability to design and manufacture high power radar systems with locally sourced components and systems.

This began with the development of short-range 2D systems (Indra-1) and has now extended to high power 3D systems like LRTR intended for strategic purposes. Several other projects span the gamut of radar applications, from airborne surveillance (AEW&C) to firecontrol radars (land based and airborne). A list of the tactical programs is as follows:

1.) Army

  • Multifunction Phased Array Radar and 3D Surveillance
  • Radar for Akash Missile Weapon System (Rajendra & 3D CAR respectively). In production.
  • Low Level Light weight 2D Radar for mountainous terrain Air Defence (Bharani). In production.
  • Low Level Light weight 3D Radar for mountainous terrain Air Defence (Bharani Mk2). In production.
  • 3D -Tactical Control Radar for Air Defence (3D TCR). In production.
  • 4D -Active Aperture Array Tactical Control Radar for Air Defence (4D TCR). In development.
  • Short Range Battle Field Surveillance Radar (2D BFSR-SR). In production.
  • Weapon Locating Radar (3D WLR). In production.
  • 3D -Atulya ADFCR (Air Defense Fire Control Radar). In development.
  • Multi Mission Radar (MMSR). Project cancelled and subsumed into QRSAM (Quick Reaction SAM) program.
    FOPEN Radar. In development.
  • Through wall detection Radar. In development.
  • Ground Penetration Radar. In development.

 

2.) Air Force

  • Multifunction Phased Array Radar and 3D Surveillance
  • Radar for Akash Missile Weapon System (Rajendra and 3D CAR respectively). In production.
  • Active Phased Array Radar for AEW&C. In production.
  • Low level 2D Air Defence Radar (Indra-2). Production closed and items delivered.
  • 3D Low Level Light Weight Radar (Aslesha). In production.
  • 3D Low Level Light Weight Radar for Mountains (Aslesha Mk2). In development.
  • 3D Medium Range Surveillance Radar for Air Defence (Rohini derivative of 3D CAR)
  • 4D Active Array Medium Power radar for AD role (Arudhra). In production.
  • 4D Active Array Low Level Transportable radar for AD role (Ashwini). In production.
  • 4D Active Array High Power radar for AD role. In development.
  • 4D Active Array for AWACS India project. In development.
  • 3D Active Array Multi Function Radar for BMD role (MFCR). In production.
  • 3D Active Array Long Range Tracking Radar (LRTR) for BMD role. In production.
  • 4D Active Array Very Long Range Tracking radar for BMD role (VLRTR). In development.
  • Airborne Electronically Scanned Array Radar for Tejas Mark 1A and Tejas Mk2(Uttam). In development.
  • Ground Controlled interception
  • SAR for UAVs

 

3.) Navy

  • Maritime Patrol Radar for fixed and Rotary Wing Aircraft (superseded by a more advanced system, the XV-2004)
  • Maritime Patrol Radar with RS and ISAR (XV-2004)
  • 3D Medium-Range Surveillance Radar for ASW Corvettes. In production.
  • Multifunction Phased Array Radar for Air Defence Ship. In development.
  • Maritime Patrol Airborne Radar for UAV. In development.
    Coastal Surveillance Radar (CSR). In production.

 

Missile System:


Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)

The IGMDP was launched by the Indian Government to develop the ability to develop and design a missile locally, and manufacture a range of missile systems for the three defence services.

The programme has seen significant success in its two most important constituents – the Agni missiles and the Prithvi missiles, while two other programmes, the Akash SAM and the anti-tank Nag Missile have seen significant orders.

The Trishul missile, a programme to develop a tri-service short-range SAM faced persistent problems throughout its development, and was terminated in 2007.

Prithvi: The Prithvi (Earth) missiles are a range of SRBMs produced for the Indian Air Force and Army; a variant for the Navy has been deployed on Sukanya class patrol vessel. Another submarine-launched variant known as the K-15 is under development. The Prithvi is an extremely accurate liquid fuelled missile with a range of up to 350 km. While relatively inexpensive and accurate, with a good payload, its logistics footprint is high, on account of it being liquid fuelled.

Agni: Agni A1-06 missile flight tested from Wheeler Island on 1 December 2011.

The Agni (Fire) ballistic missiles are a range of MRBMs, IRBMs, ICBMs meant for long-range deterrence. The Agni-III has range of up to 3,500 km (2,175 mi). The Agni-I and Agni-II have been productionised, although exact numbers remain classified.

First trials of the Agni-III saw problems and the missile test did not meet its objectives. The second test was successful. Further tests of the Agni-III are planned to validate the missile and its subsystems, which include new propellant and guidance systems, a new reentry vehicle and other improvements.

The Agni-V missile is an Intercontinental ballistic missile meant for long-range deterrence. The Agni-V is the newest version and has the longest range of up to 5000–6000 km.

Agni-V would also carry Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle payloads and will have countermeasures against Anti-ballistic missile systems. It was successfully test-fired on 19 April 2012.

The missile will utilise a canister and will be launched from it. Sixty percent of the missile will be similar to the Agni-III missile. Advanced technologies like ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer will be used in the new missile.

DRDO plans to develop reusable missiles which will be a combination of ballistic and cruise missile technology. During an interview in 24 August 2014, The DRDO chief disclosed the plans of DRDO designing a Long Range ballistic Anti-Ship missile.

Akash: Akash Surface to Air Missile System flight-tested at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur
The Akash (Sky or ether) is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system consisting of the command guidance ramjet powered Akash along with the dedicated service specific launchers, battery control radar (the Rajendra Block III), a central acquisition radar, battery and group control centres. The Akash project has yielded spinoffs like the Central Acquisition radar and weapon locating radar.

The Akash system cleared its user trials with the Indian Air Force in 2007. The user trials had the Akash intercept flying targets at ITR, Chandipur. The Akash missile struck its targets in every test. The Indian Air force has since been satisfied with the performance of the missile and ordered two squadrons of the Akash, with a squadron having eight launchers.

The Indian Air Force placed an order for an additional six squadrons of the Akash SAM in 2010, with an order of 750 missiles (125 per squadron). This order makes a total of a 1000 Akash SAMs on order for the Indian Air Force for eight squadrons.

In June 2010, the Defence Acquisition Council placed an order of the Akash missile system, valued at ₹12,500 crore (US$1.8 billion). Bharat Dynamics Limited will be the system integrator and nodal production agency for the Akash Army variant.

Trishul: The Trishul (Trident) is a short range surface-to-air missile developed by India. It was developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation as a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It can also be used as an anti-sea skimmer from a ship against low flying attacking missiles.

Trishul has a range of 9 km (5.6 mi) It is powered by a dual thrust propulsion stage using high-energy solid propellant. Trishul weighs 130 kg (290 lb) and is capable of carrying a 15 kg (33 lb) warhead.

The Trishul missile project was commissioned in 1983 as a part of Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. The project was to be completed by 1992 and the missile would be fitted to Brahmaputra-class frigates as an anti-sea skimmer.

In 1985, Trishul made its first unguided flight from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The missile made its first full range guided flight in 1989. In 1992, the missile was successfully tested against a target and reached Mach 2 speed.

In 1997, the associated radar systems for detecting the incoming sea-skimmer were operational. The launch system was developed by Bharat Dynamics Limited in 1998.

In 2003, Government of India announced that the missile will be a technology demonstrator and de-linked it from other projects. The missile was successfully test-fired in 2005.

The development cost of the programme was ₹2.826 billion (US$40 million) and the Defence minister announced the official closure of the programme in 2008.

Nag: The Nag anti-tank missile (Cobra) is a guided missile system intended for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army.

The Army will deploy the Nag on ground-based launchers and from helicopters, whereas the Air Force will rely on helicopter based units. The Nag has an Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker and has a top and direct attack capability, with a tandem warhead.

The Army's land missile carrier and launcher, known as the Namica, carries several ready to use Nag missiles within and four Nag missiles in an extendable launcher above the turret. The Namica has its own FLIR based sighting and fire control unit.

Nag Missile: The Air Force and Army will also use their Advanced Light helicopters (ALH) (HAL Dhruv) and the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LHC) as Nag carriers. The ALHs will be equipped with IRDE (DRDO) developed HELITIS (Heliborne Imaging and Targeting systems) with a combination of a FLIR and laser range finder in a stabilised turret for target acquisition and designation.

The thermal imager is likely to be imported, but the gimballed turret, stabilisation, laser range finder and associated electronics have been designed in India and will be manufactured locally.

The Nag ATGM is regarded as a highly capable missile, even though its development has been protracted, mainly due to the technological challenges of developing a state of the art IIR sensor equipped top attack missile. The Nag is still cheaper than most imported missiles in its category and is earmarked for the Army and Air Force.

The Nag anti-tank guided missile was cleared for production in July 2009 and there are uncorroborated reports since that it may be purchased by Tanzania, Botswana and Morocco.

The Nag will complement the existing Russian 9M113 Konkurs Anti-tank guided missile and European missile MILAN in Indian usage, both of which are manufactured under licence by Bharat Dynamics Limited.

Brahmos: Launched as a joint venture between India's DRDO and the Russian NPO, the BrahMos programme aims at creating a range of missile systems derived from the Yakhont missile system. Named the "BrahMos" after the Brahmaputra and the Moskva rivers, the project has been highly successful.

BrahMos: The Indian Navy has ordered the BrahMos Naval version, both slant-launched and vertically launched, for its ships; the Indian Army has ordered two regiments worth of land-launched missiles for long-range strike; and an air-launched version is in development for the Indian Air Force's Su-30 MKIs and the Navy's Tu-142 long-range aircraft.

The DRDO has been responsible for the navigational systems on the BrahMos, aspects of its propulsion, airframe and seeker, plus its Fire Control Systems, Mobile Command posts and Transporter Erector Launcher.

An upgraded version of the 290 km-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired by India on 2 December 2010 from Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the Orissa coast.

"Block III version of BrahMos with advanced guidance and upgraded software, incorporating high manoeuvres at multiple points and steep dive from high altitude was flight tested successfully from Launch Complex III of ITR," its Director S P Dash said after the test-firing from a mobile launcher at 1100 hours. The 8.4-metre missile which can fly at 2.8 times the speed of sound is capable of carrying conventional warheads of up to 300 kg for a range of 290 km.

It can effectively engage ground targets from an altitude as low as ten metres for surgical strikes at terror training camps across the border without causing collateral damage. BrahMos is capable of being launched from multiple platforms like submarine, ship, aircraft and land based Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MAL). The Block III BrahMos has the capability of scaling mountain terrain and can play a vital role in precision strike in the northern territories. The advanced cruise missile can fly close to the rough geographies and kill the target A five-year development timeframe is anticipated.

The hypersonic Brahmos 2 is to be developed as a follow on to the original Brahmos. The missile would fly at speeds of 5-7 Mach.

Nirbhay: Nirbhay (Fearless) is a long range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile powered by solid rocket booster and turbofan or a turbojet engine that can be launched from multiple platforms and is capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads.

The missile is guided by an inertial navigation system and a radio altimeter for the height determination.

It carries a Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG) based guidance, control and navigation system with additional MEMS based Inertial Navigation System (INS) along with radiodetermination-satellite service GPS/NAVIC.

With a range of about 1000 km, Nirbhay is capable of delivering 24 different types of warheads depending on mission requirements.

NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Logo
NASA Official Logo

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Annual Budget (NASA) Increase US$22.629 billion (2020)

NASA was established in 1958, succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The new agency was to have a distinctly civilian orientation, encouraging peaceful applications in space science.

Since its establishment, most US space exploration efforts have been led by NASA, including the Apollo Moon landing missions, the Skylab space station, and later the Space Shuttle.

NASA is supporting the International Space Station and is overseeing the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, the Space Launch System, and Commercial Crew vehicles. The agency is also responsible for the Launch Services Program, which provides oversight of launch operations and countdown management for uncrewed NASA launches.

NASA science is focused on better understanding Earth through the Earth Observing System, advancing heliophysics through the efforts of the Science Mission Directorate's Heliophysics Research Program; exploring bodies throughout the Solar System with advanced robotic spacecraft missions such as New Horizons; and researching astrophysics topics, such as the Big Bang, through the Great Observatories and associated programs.

 

Key Description of NASA:


Headquarters: Two Independence Square, Washington, D.C., United States

Preceding agency: NACA (1915–1958)

Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Founded: 1 October 1958, United States

Administered by: Jim Bridenstine

Subsidiaries: NASA, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Official: Website

Type: Space agency

Jurisdiction: US Federal Government

Motto: For the Benefit of All

Employees: 17,373 (2020)

Annual Budget: Increase US$22.629 billion (2020)

Agency Executives: Jim Bridenstine, Administrator, James, Morhard, Deputy Administrator, Jeff DeWit, Chief Financial Officer

Social Network: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr

 

NASA Space Mission
NASA Satellite

 

Creation of NASA:


Since 1946, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) had been experimenting with rocket planes such as the supersonic Bell X-1.

In the early 1950s, there was a challenge to launch an artificial satellite for the International Geophysical Year (1957–58), resulting in the American Project Vanguard among others. After the Soviet launch of the world's first artificial satellite (Sputnik 1) on October 4, 1957, the attention of the United States turned toward its own fledgling space efforts.

The US Congress, alarmed by the perceived threat to national security and technological leadership (known as the "Sputnik crisis"), urged immediate and swift action; President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his advisers counseled more deliberate measures.

On January 12, 1958, NACA organized a "Special Committee on Space Technology", headed by Guyford Stever. On January 14, 1958, NACA Director Hugh Dryden published "A National Research Program for Space Technology" stating.

While this new federal agency would conduct all non-military space activity, the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was created in February 1958 to develop space technology for military application.

On July 29, 1958, Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing NASA. When it began operations on October 1, 1958, NASA absorbed the 43-year-old NACA intact; its 8,000 employees, an annual budget of US$100 million, three major research laboratories (Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, and Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory) and two small test facilities.[18] A NASA seal was approved by President Eisenhower in 1959.

Elements of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency and the United States Naval Research Laboratory were incorporated into NASA.

A significant contributor to NASA's entry into the Space Race with the Soviet Union was the technology from the German rocket program led by Wernher von Braun, who was now working for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA), which in turn incorporated the technology of American scientist Robert Goddard's earlier works.

Earlier research efforts within the US Air Force and many of ARPA's early space programs were also transferred to NASA.

In December 1958, NASA gained control of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a contractor facility operated by the California Institute of Technology.

 

Activities (2005–2017):


NASA's ongoing investigations include in-depth surveys of Mars (Perseverance and InSight) and Saturn and studies of the Earth and the Sun. Other active spacecraft missions are Juno for Jupiter, New Horizons (for Jupiter, Pluto, and beyond), and Dawn for the asteroid belt.

NASA continued to support in situ exploration beyond the asteroid belt, including Pioneer and Voyager traverses into the unexplored trans-Pluto region, and Gas Giant orbiters Galileo (1989–2003), Cassini (1997–2017), and Juno (2011–).

In the early 2000s, NASA was put on course for the Moon, however, in 2010 this program was cancelled (see Constellation program). As part of that plan, the Shuttle was going to be replaced, however, although it was retired its replacement was also cancelled, leaving the US with no human spaceflight launcher for the first time in over three decades.

The New Horizons mission to Pluto was launched in 2006 and successfully performed a flyby of Pluto on July 14, 2015. The probe received a gravity assist from Jupiter in February 2007, examining some of Jupiter's inner moons and testing on-board instruments during the flyby. On the horizon of NASA's plans is the MAVEN spacecraft as part of the Mars Scout Program to study the atmosphere of Mars.[134]

On December 4, 2006, NASA announced it was planning a permanent Moon base.

The goal was to start building the Moon base by 2020, and by 2024, have a fully functional base that would allow for crew rotations and in-situ resource utilization. However, in 2009, the Augustine Committee found the program to be on an "unsustainable trajectory." In 2010, President Barack Obama halted existing plans, including the Moon base, and directed a generic focus on crewed missions to asteroids and Mars, as well as extending support for the International Space Station.

Since 2011, NASA's strategic goals have been

  • Extend and sustain human activities across the solar system
  • Expand scientific understanding of the Earth and the universe
  • Create innovative new space technologies
  • Advance aeronautics research
  • Enable program and institutional capabilities to conduct
  • NASA's aeronautics and space activities
  • Share NASA with the public, educators, and students to provide opportunities to participate

In August 2011, NASA accepted the donation of two space telescopes from the National Reconnaissance Office. Despite being stored unused, the instruments are superior to the Hubble Space Telescope.

In September 2011, NASA announced the start of the Space Launch System program to develop a human-rated heavy lift vehicle. The Space Launch System is intended to launch the Orion spacecraft and other elements towards the Moon and Mars. The Orion spacecraft conducted an uncrewed test launch on a Delta IV Heavy rocket in December 2014.

On August 6, 2012, NASA landed the rover Curiosity on Mars. On August 27, 2012, Curiosity transmitted the first pre-recorded message from the surface of Mars back to Earth, made by Administrator Charlie Bolden.

 

NASA Budget:


NASA's budget from 1958 to 2012 as a percentage of federal budget

An artist's conception, from NASA, of an astronaut planting a US flag on Mars. A human mission to Mars has been discussed as a possible NASA mission since the 1960s.
Main article: Budget of NASA

NASA's share of the total federal budget peaked at approximately 4.41% in 1966 during the Apollo program, then rapidly declined to approximately 1% in 1975, and stayed around that level through 1998.

The percentage then gradually dropped, until leveling off again at around half a percent in 2006 (estimated in 2012 at 0.48% of the federal budget).[208] In a March 2012 hearing of the United States Senate Science Committee, science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson testified that "Right now, NASA's annual budget is half a penny on your tax dollar. For twice that—a penny on a dollar—we can transform the country from a sullen, dispirited nation, weary of economic struggle, to one where it has reclaimed its 20th century birthright to dream of tomorrow.

Despite this, public perception of NASA's budget differs significantly: a 1997 poll indicated that most Americans believed that 20% of the federal budget went to NASA.

For Fiscal Year 2015, NASA received an appropriation of US$18.01 billion from Congress—$549 million more than requested and approximately $350 million more than the 2014 NASA budget passed by Congress.

In Fiscal Year 2016, NASA received $19.3 billion.

President Donald Trump signed the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 in March, which set the 2017 budget at around $19.5 billion. The budget is also reported as $19.3 billion for 2017, with $20.7 billion proposed for FY2018.

Examples of some proposed FY2018 budgets:

  • Exploration: $4.79 billion
  • Planetary science: $2.23 billion
  • Earth science: $1.92 billion
  • Aeronautics: $0.685 billion

 

Image of Some Spacecraft:


NASA Spacecraft

 

NASA plans and technology concepts

ISRO: The Indian Space Research Organisation

ISRO Budget

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) ( भारतीय अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान संगठन, इसरो) is the space agency of the Government of India and has its headquarters in the city of Bengaluru.

Its vision is to "harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research & planetary exploration".

The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was established by Jawaharlal Nehru under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1962, with the urging of scientist Vikram Sarabhai recognizing the need in space research.

INCOSPAR grew and became ISRO in 1969, also under the DAE. In 1972, the Government of India had set up a Space Commission and the Department of Space (DOS), bringing ISRO under the DOS. The establishment of ISRO thus institutionalized space research activities in India.

It is managed by the DOS, which reports to the Prime Minister of India.

 

Key Description of ISRO:


Abbreviation: ISRO

Founder: Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai

Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan

Formation: 15 August 1969

Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Subsidiary: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

Administrator: K. Sivan (Chairman)

Primary spaceport: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC/SHAR), Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)

Parent organisation: Department of Space

Budget: Increase ₹13,479.47 crore (US$1.9 billion)

Staff: 17,222 as of 2020

Social Network: Facebook, Twitter

Website: Link

 

Goals and Objectives of ISRO:


The prime objective of ISRO is to use space technology and its application to various national tasks. The Indian space program was driven by the vision of Vikram Sarabhai, considered the father of the Indian space programme. As he said in 1969.

 

Organisation Structure And Facilities:


ISRO is managed by the Department of Space (DoS) of the Government of India. DoS itself falls under the authority of the Space Commission and manages the following agencies and institutes:

  • Indian Space Research Organisation
  • Antrix Corporation – The marketing arm of ISRO, Bengaluru.
  • Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad.
  • National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Gadanki, Andhra pradesh.
  • New Space India Limited - Commercial wing, Bengaluru.
  • North-Eastern Space Applications Centre[42] (NE-SAC), Umiam.
  • Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali.
  • Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram – India's space university.

 

Research Facilities:

Facility Location Description
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Thiruvananthapuram The largest ISRO base is also the main technical centre and the venue of development of the SLV-3, ASLV, and PSLV series.[43] The base supports India's Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station and the Rohini Sounding Rocket programme.[43] This facility is also developing the GSLV series.[43]
Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru The LPSC handles design, development, testing and implementation of liquid propulsion control packages, liquid stages and liquid engines for launch vehicles and satellites.[43] The testing of these systems is largely conducted at IPRC at Mahendragiri.[43] The LPSC, Bangalore also produces precision transducers.[44]
Physical Research Laboratory Ahmedabad Solar planetary physics, infrared astronomy, geo-cosmo physics, plasma physics, astrophysics, archaeology, and hydrology are some of the branches of study at this institute.[43] An observatory at Udaipur also falls under the control of this institution.[43]
Semi-Conductor Laboratory Chandigarh Research & Development in the field of semiconductor technology, micro-electro mechanical systems and process technologies relating to semiconductor processing.
National Atmospheric Research Laboratory Tirupati The NARL carries out fundamental and applied research in atmospheric and space sciences.
Space Applications Centre Ahmedabad The SAC deals with the various aspects of the practical use of space technology.[43] Among the fields of research at the SAC are geodesy, satellite based telecommunications, surveying, remote sensing, meteorology, environment monitoring etc.[43] The SAC also operates the Delhi Earth Station, which is located in Delhi and is used for demonstration of various SATCOM experiments in addition to normal SATCOM operations.[45]
North-Eastern Space Applications Centre Shillong Providing developmental support to North East by undertaking specific application projects using remote sensing, GIS, satellite communication and conducting space science research.

 

Other Facilities:


  • Aerospace Command of India (ACI)
  • Balasore Rocket Launching Station (BRLS) – Odisha
  • Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), Bengaluru.
  • Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR)
  • Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS)
  • Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC)
  • Integrated Space Cell
  • Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)
  • ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) – Thiruvananthapuram
  • National Deep Space Observation Centre (NDSPO)
  • Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres (RRSSC)
  • Master Control Facility

 

Human Spaceflight Programme of ISRO:


In 2009, the Indian Space Research Organisation proposed a budget of ₹12,400 crore (US$1.7 billion) for its human spaceflight programme.

According to the Space Commission, which recommended the budget, an unscrewed flight will be launched after seven years from the final approval and a crewed mission will be launched after seven years of funding. If realized in the stated time-frame, India will become the fourth nation, after the USSR, USA and China, to successfully carry out crewed missions indigenously.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced in his Independence Day address of 15 August 2018 that India will send astronauts into space by 2022 on the new Gaganyaan spacecraft.

After the announcement, ISRO chairman, Sivan, said ISRO has developed most of the technologies needed such as crew module and crew escape system, and that the project would cost less than Rs. 100 billion and would include sending at least 3 Indians to space, 300–400 km above in a spacecraft for at least seven days using a GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle. The chance of a female being a member of the first crew is "very high" according to the scientific secretary to the Indian chairman, R. Umamaheswaran.

 

ISRO satellites that were launched by foreign agencies, are listed in the table below.

 

No. Satellite's name Launch agency Country / region of launch agency Launch date Mission life
1. Aryabhata USSR 19 April 1975
2. Bhaskara-1 USSR 7 June 1979 1 year
3. Apple Arianespace Europe 19 June 1981 2 years
4. Bhaskara-2 USSR 20 November 1981 1 year
5. INSAT-1A McDonnell-Douglas USA 10 April 1982 7 years
6. INSAT-1B USA 30 August 1983 7 years
7. IRS-1A USSR 17 March 1988 7 years
8. INSAT-1C Arianespace Europe 22 July 1988 7 years
9. INSAT-1D McDonnell-Douglas USA 12 June 1990 12 years
10. IRS-1B USSR 29 August 1991 12 years
11. INSAT-2A Arianespace Europe 10 July 1992 7 years
12. INSAT-2B Arianespace Europe 22 July 1993 7 years
13. INSAT-2C Arianespace Europe 6 December 1995 7 years
14. IRS-1C Russia 28 December 1995 7 years
15. INSAT-2D Arianespace Europe 3 June 1997 7 years
16. INSAT-2E Arianespace Europe 2 April 1999 12 years
17. INSAT-3B Arianespace Europe 21 March 2000 10 years
18. INSAT-3C Arianespace Europe 23 January 2002 12 years
19. INSAT-3A Arianespace Europe 9 April 2003 12 years
20. INSAT-3E Arianespace Europe 27 September 2003 12 years
21. INSAT-4A Arianespace Europe 22 December 2005 12 years
22. INSAT-4B Arianespace Europe 12 March 2007 12 years
23. GSAT-8 Arianespace Europe 21 May 2011 More than 12 years
24. INSAT-3D Arianespace Europe 26 July 2013 7 years
24. GSAT-7 Arianespace Europe 30 August 2013 7 years
26. GSAT-10 Arianespace Europe 29 September 2010 15 years
27. GSAT-16 Arianespace Europe 7 December 2014 12 years
28. GSAT-15 Arianespace Europe 11 November 2015 12 years
29. GSAT-18 Arianespace Europe 6 October 2016 15 years
30. GSAT-17 Arianespace Europe 28 June 2017 15 years
31. GSAT-11 Arianespace Europe 5 December 2018 15 years
32. GSAT-31 Arianespace Europe 5 February 2019 15 years

 

Statistics of ISRO (2020)


Total number of foreign satellites launched by ISRO : 319 (33 countries)

Spacecraft missions: 117

Launch missions: 77

Student satellites: 10 [231]

Re-entry missions: 2

Blue Origin: Private Spaceflight, Mission, Latest News 2020

Blue Origin Federation, LLC is an American privately funded aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company headquartered in Kent, Washington.

Founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, the company is led by CEO Bob Smith and is developing technologies to enable private human access to space with the goal to dramatically lower costs and increase reliability.

This company is employing an incremental approach from suborbital to orbital flight, with each developmental step building on its prior work. The company motto is Gradatim Ferociter, Latin for "Step by Step, Ferociously".

Blue Origin is developing a variety of technologies, with a focus on rocket-powered vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) vehicles for access to suborbital and orbital space. The company's name refers to the blue planet, Earth, as the point of origin.

Blue Origin - aerospace manufacturer

 

Key Description of Blue Origin:


Owner: Jeff Bezos

Founder: Jeff Bezos

CEO: Bob Smith

Founded: 8 September 2000, Kent, Washington, United States

Headquarters: Kent, Washington, United States

Number of employees: 2,500 (2019)

Subsidiaries: Blue Origin Florida; Blue Origin Texas; Blue Origin International

Official Website: www.blueorigin.com

Social Network: YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram

 

History of Blue Origin:


Company founder Jeff Bezos has been interested in space from an early age.

Company was founded in 2000 in Kent, Washington, and began developing both rocket propulsion systems and launch vehicles. Since the founding, the company was very secretive about its plans and emerged from its "self-imposed silence" only after 2015.

While the company was formally incorporated in 2000, its existence became public only in 2003, when Bezos began buying land in Texas, and interested parties followed up on the purchases. This was a topic of some interest in local politics, and Bezos' rapid aggregation of lots under a variety of whimsically named shell companies was called a "land grab".

From 2003 to 2017, Company was led by its president, Rob Meyerson.

In April 2019, Blue had more than 2000 employees, with plans to have more than 2600 by the end of 2019.

As of 2016, Blue Origin was spending US$1 billion a year, funded by Jeff Bezos' sales of Amazon stock.[24] In both 2017, and again in 2018, Bezos made public statements that he intends to fund Blue Origin with US$1 billion per year from sales of his equity in Amazon.

 

Early test flights

 

Date Vehicle Notes
5 March 2005 Charon Reached altitude of 96 m (315 ft)
13 November 2006 Goddard First rocket-powered test flight
22 March 2007 Goddard
19 April 2007 Goddard
6 May 2011 PM2 (Propulsion Module)
24 August 2011 PM2 (Propulsion Module) Failure, loss of vehicle
19 October 2012 New Shepard, capsule only Pad escape test flight

 

Funding of Blue Origin:


By July 2014, Jeff Bezos had invested over US$500 million into Blue Origin. Even by March 2016, the vast majority of funding to support technology development and operations at Blue Origin has come from Jeff Bezos' private investment, but Bezos had declined to publicly state the amount prior to 2017 when an annual amount was stated publicly.

Company will receive up to $500 million from the United States Air Force over the period 2019 - 2024 if they are a finalist in the Launch Services Agreement competition, of which they have received at least $181 million so far. Compnay has also completed work for NASA on several small development contracts, receiving total funding of US$25.7 million by 2013. As of April 2017, Bezos is selling approximately US$1 billion in Amazon stock each year to privately finance Blue Origin.

 

Collaborations:


With NASA: Blue Origin has contracted to do work for NASA on several development efforts. The company was awarded US$3.7 million in funding in 2009 by NASA via a Space Act Agreement under the first Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program for development of concepts and technologies to support future human spaceflight operations. NASA co-funded risk-mitigation activities related to ground testing of

(1) an innovative 'pusher' escape system, that lowers cost by being reusable and enhances safety by avoiding the jettison event of a traditional 'tractor' Launch Escape System, and

(2) an innovative composite pressure vessel cabin that both reduces weight and increases safety of astronauts. This was later revealed to be a part of a larger system, designed for a biconic capsule, that would be launched atop an Atlas V rocket. On 8 November 2010, it was announced that Blue Origin had completed all milestones under its CCDev Space Act Agreement.

With DARPA: Compnay cooperated with Boeing in Phase 1 of the DARPA XS-1 spaceplane program.

United Launch Alliance: In September 2018, it was announced that Blue Origin's BE-4 engine had been selected by United Launch Alliance to provide first-stage rocket engines for ULA's next-generation booster design, the Vulcan rocket. The BE-4 engine is set to replace the Russian-built RD-180 currently powering ULA's Atlas 5.

With United States Space Force: Blue Origin is reportedly in contracting talks with the United States Space Force according to Lt. General David Thompson.

SpaceX: Private Spaceflight, Mission, Latest News 2020

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., trading as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California.

SpaceX Logo

It was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars. SpaceX has developed several launch vehicles and the Dragon spacecraft.

SpaceX Mission
First Private Aerospace Manufacturer

 

Trade name: SpaceX

Type: Private

Industry: Aerospace

Founded: May 6, 2002

Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, U.S.

Key people: Elon Musk (founder, CEO, and CTO)
Gwynne Shotwell (President and COO)

Products: Several launch vehicles, Several rocket engines
Dragon capsules, Starship (in development), Starlink, ASDS landing platforms

Services: Orbital rocket launch

Owner: Elon Musk Trust (54% equity; 78% voting control)

Number of employees: 8,000 (November 2019)

Website: www.space.com

 

SpaceX Achievements


Major achievements of SpaceX are in the reuse of orbital-class launch vehicles and cost reduction in the space launch industry. Most notable of these being the continued landings and relaunches of the first stage of Falcon 9. As of March 2020, SpaceX has used a single first-stage booster, B1048, at most five times. SpaceX is defined as a private space company and thus its achievements can also be counted as firsts by a private company.

  • Landmark achievements of SpaceX in chronological order include:
  • The first privately funded liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit (Falcon 1 flight 4 on September 28, 2008)
  • The first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to put a commercial satellite in orbit (RazakSAT on Falcon 1 flight 5 on July 14, 2009)
  • The first private company to successfully launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft (SpaceX Dragon on COTS Demo Flight 1 on December 9, 2010)
  • The first private company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station (Dragon C2+ on May 25, 2012)
  • The first private company to send a satellite into geosynchronous orbit (SES-8 on Falcon 9 flight 7 on December 3, 2013)
  • The first landing of an orbital rocket's first stage on land (Falcon 9 flight 20 on December 22, 2015)
  • The first landing of an orbital rocket's first stage on an ocean platform (Falcon 9 flight 23 on April 8, 2016)
  • The first relaunch and landing of a used orbital rocket stage (B1021 on Falcon 9 flight 32 on March 30, 2017)
  • The first controlled flyback and recovery of a payload fairing (Falcon 9 flight 32 on March 30, 2017)
  • The first reflight of a commercial cargo spacecraft. (Dragon C106 on CRS-11 mission on June 3, 2017)
  • The first private company to send an object into heliocentric orbit (Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster on Falcon Heavy test flight on February 6, 2018)
  • The first private company to send a human-rated spacecraft to space (Crew Dragon Demo-1, on Falcon 9 flight 69 on March 2, 2019)
  • The first private company to autonomously dock a spacecraft to the International Space Station (Crew Dragon Demo-1, on Falcon 9 flight 69 on March 2, 2019)
  • The first use of a full flow staged combustion cycle engine (Raptor) in a free flying vehicle (Starhopper, multiple tests in 2019).
  • The first reuse of payload fairing. On November 11, 2019 on Starlink 1 Falcon 9 launch. Fairing was from the ArabSat-6A mission in April earlier that year.
  • The first private company to send humans into orbit ((Crew Dragon Demo-2) on May 30, 2020).
  • The first private company to send humans to the International Space Station ((Crew Dragon Demo-2) on May 31, 2020)

Elon Musk Quotes

 

Research and Development


First test firing of a scale Raptor development engine in September 2016 in McGregor, Texas.

SpaceX is actively pursuing several different research and development programs. Most notable are those intended to develop a fully reusable launch vehicle called Starship and a global telecommunications network called Starlink.

Reusable Launch System:

SpaceX's reusable launcher program was publicly announced in 2011 and the design phase was completed in February 2012. The system returns the first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket to a predetermined landing site using only its own propulsion systems.

SpaceX's active test program began in late 2012 with testing low-altitude, low-speed aspects of the landing technology. The prototypes of Falcon 9 performed vertical takeoffs and landings.

High-velocity, high-altitude aspects of the booster atmospheric return technology began testing in late 2013 and have continued through 2018, with a 98% success rate to date. As a result of Elon Musk's goal of crafting more cost-effective launch vehicles, SpaceX conceived a method to reuse the first stage of their primary rocket, the Falcon 9, by attempting propulsive vertical landings on solid surfaces.

Once the company determined that soft landings were feasible by touching down over the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, they began landing attempts on a solid platform. SpaceX leased and modified several barges to sit out at sea as a target for the returning first stage, converting them to autonomous spaceport drone ships (ASDS). SpaceX first achieved a successful landing and recovery of a first stage in December 2015, and in April 2016, the first stage booster first successfully landed on the ASDS Of Course I Still Love You.

SpaceX continues to carry out first stage landings on every orbital launch that fuel margins allow. By October 2016, following the successful landings, SpaceX indicated they were offering their customers a ten percent price discount if they choose to fly their payload on a reused Falcon 9 first stage. On March 30, 2017, SpaceX launched a "flight-proven" Falcon 9 for the SES-10 mission. This was the first time a re-launch of a payload-carrying orbital rocket went back to space. The first stage was recovered and landed on the ASDS Of Course I Still Love You in the Atlantic Ocean, also making it the first landing of a reused orbital class rocket. Elon Musk called the achievement an "incredible milestone in the history of space."

The autonomous spaceport drone ships are named after giant starships from the Culture series stories by science fiction author Iain M. Banks.

 

Starship: SpaceX is developing a super-heavy lift launch system, Starship. Starship is a fully reusable second stage and space vehicle intended to replace all of the company's existing launch vehicle hardware by the early 2020s; plus ground infrastructure for rapid launch and relaunch and zero-gravity propellant transfer technology in low Earth orbit (LEO).

SpaceX initially envisioned a 12-meter-diameter ITS concept in 2016 which was solely aimed at Mars transit and other interplanetary uses. In 2017, SpaceX articulated a smaller 9-meter-diameter BFR to replace all of SpaceX launch service provider capabilities—Earth-orbit, lunar-orbit, interplanetary missions, and potentially, even intercontinental passenger transport on Earth—but do so on a fully reusable set of vehicles with a markedly lower cost structure. A large portion of the components on Starship are made of 301 stainless steel. Private passenger Yusaku Maezawa has contracted to fly around the Moon in Starship in 2023.

Musk's long-term vision for the company is the development of technology and resources suitable for human colonization on Mars. He has expressed his interest in someday traveling to the planet, stating "I'd like to die on Mars, just not on impact." A rocket every two years or so could provide a base for the people arriving in 2025 after a launch in 2024. According to Steve Jurvetson, Musk believes that by 2035 at the latest, there will be thousands of rockets flying a million people to Mars, in order to enable a self-sustaining human colony.

 

Other Projects:


In January 2015, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced the development of a new satellite constellation, called Starlink, to provide global broadband internet service. In June 2015, the company asked the federal government for permission to begin testing for a project that aims to build a constellation of 4,425 satellites capable of beaming the Internet to the entire globe, including remote regions which currently do not have Internet access.

The Internet service would use a constellation of 4,425 cross-linked communications satellites in 1,100 km orbits. Owned and operated by SpaceX, the goal of the business is to increase profitability and cashflow, to allow SpaceX to build its Mars colony.

Development began in 2015, initial prototype test-flight satellites were launched on the SpaceX PAZ mission in 2017. Initial operation of the constellation could begin as early as 2020.

As of March 2017, SpaceX filed with the US regulatory authorities plans to field a constellation of an additional 7,518 "V-band satellites in non-geosynchronous orbits to provide communications services" in an electromagnetic spectrum that had not previously been "heavily employed for commercial communications services". Called the "V-band low-Earth-orbit (VLEO) constellation", it would consist of "7,518 satellites to follow the [earlier] proposed 4,425 satellites that would function in Ka- and Ku-band". In February 2019, SpaceX formed a sibling company, SpaceX Services, Inc., to license the manufacture and deployment of up to 1,000,000 fixed satellite earth stations that will communicate with its Starlink system. In May 2019, SpaceX launched the first batch of 60 satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, FL.

In June 2015, SpaceX announced that they would sponsor a Hyperloop competition, and would build a 1-mile-long (1.6 km) subscale test track near SpaceX's headquarters for the competitive events. The first competitive event was held at the track in January 2017, the second in August 2017 and the third in December 2018.