This news report is saying that once the two launch pads are available, ISRO will be able to ramp up the launch frequency. I thought that the second launch pad was available, but could not be used concurrently. Was the reporter trying to allude to the second vehicle assembly building, but botched up while reporting it ?ISRO will double satellite launching capacityQuoteIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to double the launching of satellites by constructing another Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle Integration Facility. Cost-effectiveness has attracted several countries including the U.S. and the U.K. to use ISRO's launch pad at Sriharikota, according to B.V.V.S.N. Prasad Rao, Scientist G and Deputy General Manager at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range (SHAR).QuoteMr. Rao, who was in the city on Sunday to take part in the World Space Week celebrations, told The Hindu that at present, the ISRO was able to launch seven satellites from the first launch pad. "As the demand for PSLVs to launch payloads of foreign satellites is increasing, the ISRO has decided to augment its infrastructure. Once two launch pads are available, we will be able to take up launching of satellites simultaneously, increasing the total number up to 16 per annum," Mr. Prasad Rao said.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to double the launching of satellites by constructing another Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle Integration Facility. Cost-effectiveness has attracted several countries including the U.S. and the U.K. to use ISRO's launch pad at Sriharikota, according to B.V.V.S.N. Prasad Rao, Scientist G and Deputy General Manager at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range (SHAR).
Mr. Rao, who was in the city on Sunday to take part in the World Space Week celebrations, told The Hindu that at present, the ISRO was able to launch seven satellites from the first launch pad. "As the demand for PSLVs to launch payloads of foreign satellites is increasing, the ISRO has decided to augment its infrastructure. Once two launch pads are available, we will be able to take up launching of satellites simultaneously, increasing the total number up to 16 per annum," Mr. Prasad Rao said.
Thanks for the clarification. India is either a direct or grandfathered signatory to the Svalbard (Spitzbergen) Treaty which allows for a wide variety of non military activities including economic activity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_TreatyThey might not need to actually ask permission (except from local authorities involved in regulation or permitting or landuse restrictuions)...Svalbard is apparently unique in not requiring visas for any nationals (many places don't require visas for some nationals but no other place requires none for anyone)
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which has set an ambitious target of launching two satellites every month from October this year and throughout 2019, appears to have hit a bottleneck in the very first month of the plan. While two satellites were scheduled for launch during the month of October, sources say the launches were highly unlikely due to integration delays. However, sources in ISRO indicate that the two launches were highly unlikely as the processes involved in integration and launch of satellites were yet to be completed. Of the launches, GSAT-29 is a communication satellite targeting Village Resource Centres to "bridge the digital divide".
However, sources said that the launch of the two satellites in the remaining days of October was difficult, if not highly unlikely. "If ISRO pushes for the launches in October too, it will be difficult to pull off two launches in two weeks," the source said. When contacted, an ISRO official who did not wish to be quoted said that various tests required for the launch of satellites was completed and the dates for the launch would be finalised in a week. "Since satellite launch involves several critical steps to pull off, it is difficult to follow a set schedule. However, all efforts are being made to ensure that the satellites are launched on time," the official added.
Space race with India? Pak plans manned mission.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/first-indian-and-pakistani-astronauts-to-be-in-space-in-2022/articleshow/66366489.cms. Is it real for god sake. LOL........
So it's never occurred to me to ask this - but what does the "C" in the various PSLV mission numbers mean? (eg. "PSLV C43"). It looks like it's some designation for operational flights, as opposed to the developmental ones.Likewise, the GSLV-Mk1/2 flights have an "F" on them - what does that mean? Again, it seems to be correlated with the operational flights as opposed to developmental, but no idea what the letter is supposed to mean.I'd read that the upcoming Chandrayaan-2 mission will be launched as GSLV MkIII M1 - so aside from signifying an operational flight as opposed to developmental, what does the "M" itself mean?
Folks any status update on GSAT-31 ? I understand this is needed to be launched very soon, otherwise there would be a problem for India in terms of telecommunications, DTH and video broadcasting services...
Q) In these next few weeks, how many missions are you doing? You have quite a packed schedule?A) Actually that is true. If you have seen our schedule up till January, we have 10 missions; that is, four launch vehicle missions and six satellite missions. The immediate mission is PSLV C-43. Then the GSLV will launch GSAT-7A. Then another PSLV is going to launch EMISAT. Then GSLV Mk III will launch Chandryaan-2. Alongside, we have two procured launches that is GSAT-11 and GSAT-31. So we have totally 10 missions in a packed mission schedule.
Contrary to earlier reports, ISRO has decided to launch the two heavier satellites GSAT-31 and GSAT-30 on Ariane-5 to replace INSAT-4CR whose life gets over in January and INSAT-4A, as its life span ends in July 2019."Unless we launch the two satellites (GSAT-31 & GSAT-30) before the lifespan of earlier satellites end, we will have no telecast link and direct-to-home (DTH) services in the country," pointed out Sivan.
Originally, the ISRO had planned to use its GSLV Mark-3 rocket to launch the two satellites. However, with the ambitious second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 lined up for early next year, ISRO was compelled to engage a foreign agency for the launch of the heavy communications satellites.there has been no significant progress on this front.