Indian Space Program: News & Discussions

ISRO Signs Pacts With Four Countries For Launching Foreign Satellites During 2021-23, To Earn 132 Million Euros

by Swarajya Staff-Dec 17, 2021 09:03 AM
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ISRO’s GSLV Mark-III D1 launched with GSAT-19 satellite (Representative Image)

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed six agreements with four countries for launching foreign satellites during 2021-2023, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday (16 December).

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Singh informed that about 132 million Euros would be earned through launching of these foreign satellites on a commercial basis.

ISRO, through its commercial arm, New Space India Limited (NSIL), has been launching satellites belonging to other countries on-board Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), on a commercial basis, said a Department of Space release.

As on date, NSIL has signed six Launch Service Agreements with customers from four countries for launching foreign satellites into space on-board PSLV during 2021-2023.

In another written reply to a similar question in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Singh informed that starting from 1999 till date, a total of 342 foreign satellites belonging to 34 countries have been successfully launched on board Indian Polar satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on a commercial basis.

The minister said that through the launching of foreign satellites on-board Indian launch vehicle, India has earned a foreign exchange revenue of approximately $35 million and 10 million Euros during last 3 years (2019- 2021).

The type of foreign satellites that were launched through Indian Launch Vehicle includes satellites primarily for Earth Observation, Scientific and Technology demonstration purposes, the release said.

ISRO Signs Pacts With Four Countries For Launching Foreign Satellites During 2021-23, To Earn 132 Million Euros
 

ISRO defers launch of three earth observation satellites​

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has again deferred the launch of three earth observation satellites that were planned for the third and fourth quarter of the year, including the first development flight of what is likely to be a purely commercial small satellite launch vehicle.
The three launches have now been slated for the first quarter of 2022, according to the recently released monthly report of the department of space.

Last month, Union MoS for Department of Space Dr Jitendra Singh had said the first uncrewed flight under Gaganyaan mission could take place as early as January 2022, with the second uncrewed mission also planned for later the same year. The third crewed flight will take place in 2023, he said.

Far behind China​

ISRO conducted only two launches this year: the PSLV-C1 mission that carried Brazil’s earth observation satellite Amazonia-1 in February, and the GSLV-F10 mission with earth observation satellite EOS-03, which failed. China, meanwhile, conducted at least 47 launches in 2021, setting a global record.

This means, ISRO will have to undertake at least four missions in the first three months of 2022. There is a gap of usually a couple of months between two launches — the smallest duration between two launches in the last four years being 15 days with two separate launch pads being used.

“The ISRO chairman previously said the missions were deferred because of the cyclonic storm, which means all systems are already in place. If that is the case, ISRO has the capability to pull off four missions in the span of three months,” said Ajey Lele, senior fellow at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

“Let’s take the Chandrayaan-2 mission, for example,” he said. “The launch had to be deferred (at the) last minute because of a leakage issue. The launch vehicle was de-fuelled, repaired, and the launch was again conducted within 10 days or so, which shows the agency has the launch capacity.

“Preparedness of satellites and the other systems is the challenge.”

Lele also said, “As for the Gaganyaan mission, there is no clarity on the mission plan; ISRO needs two relay satellites in space to cover the dark spots in communication with the space module. However, we do not know whether this would be done before the first uncrewed mission. If they are just testing the components for human survival during the first mission, they would not need it. However, it is always better to have all systems in place and test everything together.”

Other than the SSLV mission, the other two satellites will be launched aboard India’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. Of the two PSLV missions, one was initially slated for the second quarter of the year but was deferred after the second wave of the pandemic, which forced the space agency to delay all big-ticket missions planned for the year, including the first uncrewed flight under Gaganyaan mission and India’s first solar mission Aditya-L1.
 
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THREAD!!

Very interesting discussion on emerging trends in SLVs. It seems ISRO has it's priorities mixed up.

strange comment. As an engineer I can confirm that the truss rod structure has done its job and is also lighter. Why should they change it now unless they think there is a risk of structural weakness they didn't pick up till now.
 
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THREAD!!

Very interesting discussion on emerging trends in SLVs. It seems ISRO has it's priorities mixed up.
How is their priorities mixed up ??
strange comment. As an engineer I can confirm that the truss rod structure has done its job and is also lighter. Why should they change it now unless they think there is a risk of structural weakness they didn't pick up till now.
In the tweet itself it is said that this new setup will save almost 490 kg weight in Upper stage which will directly enahance the payload by similar amount .
 
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How is their priorities mixed up ??

In the tweet itself it is said that this new setup will save almost 490 kg weight in Upper stage which will directly enahance the payload by similar amount .

unless the materials are changed this will not happen. But even if materials are changed difficult to achieve said reduction.