ISRO General News & Updates

[Rishithulyan]

With an aim to ramp up capability ( goal of carrying out 1 launch mission a month of both its current PSLV-GSLVs, as well as future LVM3) ISRO had initiated setting up of Second Vehicle Assembly Building [SVAB] .

"The Second Vehicle Assembly Building will provide enhanced launch frequency of PSLV and GSLV by facilitating parallel integration operations. It will also provide redundancy to existing Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) for integration of GSLV MK-III and also as a prime integration facility for third launch pad and future general launch vehicles"

So is it not clear that 2nd launch pad is underutilised ?

bro, you are quoting the need aspect justification of SVAB, upon which the govt has sanctioned the money for the SVAB.

Yes, SVAB will be very much required, to meet the target of one launch per month, that too involving increased frequency of Mk-II and Mk-III launches. But you have to realise that situation is not now. It is a future requirement. It will take minimum 3-5 years for such a situation of frequent launches of PSLV, Mk-II & MK-III, of the order of one launch per month.

Think of the current condition. Mk-II vehicle is not fully flight proven. One Mk-II vehicle takes nearly 6-8 months for preparation currently, owing to the delay in readiness for its Cryo Stage.

Mk-III preparation at VAB and Mk-II preparation at SSAB will happen as per schedule. the launch dates are depending on the availability of Cryo stages. VAB occupied with Mk-III preparation is not causing any delay to the Mk-II schedule. The schedule for Mk-II is delayed because its Cryo stage is arriving delayed at SHAR.

Why are you not understanding the point which I am repeating :-O

 

[abhinaba]

Mk-III preparation at VAB and Mk-II preparation at SSAB will happen as per schedule. the launch dates are depending on the availability of Cryo stages. The schedule for Mk-II is delayed because its Cryo stage is arriving delayed at SHAR.

bro, for MK-II's D3,D5,D6 & F5 missions ISRO used CUS-03 (A6), CUS-05 (A8), CUS-06 (A9) & CUS-07 (A10) respectively. Presuming that CUS-04 (A7) was in storage & will be used for long due F09/GSAT-9 mission i have made those comments. Now it seems ISRO already canceled manufacturing of CUS-04 & its engine with serial no. A7.

 

[abhinaba]

GSAT-14 was originally positioned to its designated orbital slot of 74 deg E but according to latest n2yo data it is near 63°E, drifting West @ 0.6°/day !!!!
I think ISRO intentionally relocating it to its new orbital slot of 48°E as GSAT-9 which was originally planned to be used as spare satellite from 48°E will now use 74°E to serve SAARC nations.

Source : GSAT-14 Satellite details 2014-001A NORAD 39498

 

[abhinaba]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It’s a new year
bash of a different kind at the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) this season.
The opening months of 2017 are quite
hectic for the space agency with five
missions lined up for the first quarter. There will be two missions of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), one launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk-II (GSLV Mk-II), the first full-scale launch of the giant Geosynchronous Satellite
Launch Vehicle Mk-III (GSLV Mk-III), in addition to the ‘Pad Abort Test,’ Dr K Sivan, director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Thumba here, ISRO’s nodal agency for launch vehicles, said.

Source: www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2017/jan/05/isro-set-to-raise-nations-pride-with-five-missions-1556290.html

 

[abhinaba]

Elon Musk's chart on rocket performance from across the world.
How Elon is saying that Ariane 5 is underperforming than Falcon 9 FT ? Till to date Falcon 9 FT was used to launch only 6 tonne payload to GTO & 3 tonne payload to LEO.

 

[abhinaba]

Eon Musk included Falcon Heavy (not tested yet) in his list but forget to mention Chinese LM5B which will have a payload capacity of 25 tonne @ LEO !!!!!

 

[abhinaba]

According to new n2yo data GSAT-14 is stationed @ its old designated orbit of 74°E. It is INSAT-4CR which is moving west; now it is @ 61°E . Nowadays n2yo also giving wrong info :angry :wall

Source: https://www.n2yo.com/?s=39498 for GSAT-14 & https://www.n2yo.com/?s=32050 for INSAT-4CR

 

[abhinaba]

Can anyone confirm about recent changes in Frequency/Symbol rate/Polarisation for VICTERS ? I am asking this because after EDUSAT (decommissioned in 2010) INSAT-4CR was used for VICTERS.

 

[abhinaba]

According to unofficial source PSLV C37 launch is planned for February 8 at 8:29 am LT

 

[abhinaba]

Insat-3C is leaving 74.0°E, drifting East 0.5°/ day.