I would still like to know what the long-term goal of the indian piloted space programme is. Right now it seems to be nothing more than orbiting a few people with no indications of anything beyond that - like work on orbital stations, etc.
I would still like to know what the long-term goal of the indian piloted space programme is. Right now it seems to be nothing more than orbiting a few people with no indications of anything beyond that - like work on orbital stations, etc.
To add to my previous post, note that the launch vehicle depicted in second pic is a GSLV-II (as was the plan originally), while it will instead be GSLV-III as per all recent statements from ISRO.
I would still like to know what the long-term goal of the indian piloted space programme is. Right now it seems to be nothing more than orbiting a few people with no indications of anything beyond that - like work on orbital stations, etc.
Perhaps that case will have to be better articulated before the Indian govt will grant approval, since after all, questions like yours will definitely be asked in the parliament if the govt commits to that expenditure. There's already a debate in the Indian scientific community about whether HSF would be worthwhile.
- There's the idea that access to space inherently includes human access to it
- There's the space exploitation argument, which may still include talk about lunar He-3
- There's the argument that India must stay relevant in contributing to scientific & technological progress
- There are geopolitical concerns that other powers could get together to form clubs that shut out "have-nots"
- There's the "soft power" argument that flying with astronauts from other countries could be useful for diplomacy
- There's the market opportunity argument, that space tourism could be a revenue stream
There are probably some more, which I can't think of immediately offhand
ISRO has released a research proposal for analyzing atmospheric re-entry of cryo stage and crew module as part of their RESPOND program dated March 2017:
Re-entry Trajectory Design and Analysis of Two Closely Following Bodies with a Possibility of Break ups (VSSC):
Re-entry trajectory design is complex as large amount of heat has to be dissipated and structural integrity of the body has to be ensured. Design becomes challenging when two bodies closely follow each other. This
typically occurs in one of the missions where crew module and cryostage enters the Earth’s atmosphere and are in close vicinity. The possibility of cryostage breakup during the re-entry is to be analyzed. Number of pieces
during the break-up is to be evaluated based upon detailed structural analysis of the cryo stage components. The survivability of these pieces and the effect of impact of these pieces on the ongoing crew module are to
be assessed.
Development of Catalysts for Splitting of Carbon Dioxide (VSSC):
Atmosphere of Mars is reported to comprise mainly (95%) of carbon dioxide. It is suggested that oxygen for propulsion (for return flight to Earth) can be produced in Mars by catalytic splitting of carbon dioxide into carbon
monoxide and oxygen. Another method is to reduce carbon dioxide using hydrogen (transported from Earth) to produce oxygen and methane. Development of catalysts for these reactions and optimisation of reaction conditions will go a long way in realizing Mars explorations.
ISRO has released a research proposal for analyzing atmospheric re-entry of cryo stage and crew module as part of their RESPOND program dated March 2017:
Re-entry Trajectory Design and Analysis of Two Closely Following Bodies with a Possibility of Break ups (VSSC):
Re-entry trajectory design is complex as large amount of heat has to be dissipated and structural integrity of the body has to be ensured. Design becomes challenging when two bodies closely follow each other. This
typically occurs in one of the missions where crew module and cryostage enters the Earth’s atmosphere and are in close vicinity. The possibility of cryostage breakup during the re-entry is to be analyzed. Number of pieces
during the break-up is to be evaluated based upon detailed structural analysis of the cryo stage components. The survivability of these pieces and the effect of impact of these pieces on the ongoing crew module are to
be assessed.
Why would cryo stage and capsule enter in close proximity - you mean like an abort scenario? Other than this, why would they re-enter in close proximity?
Russia may help India to train astronauts, deputy PM says
Science & Space June 21, 8:15 UTC+3
The deputy prime minister believes it's time for a more large-scale cooperation in the space sphere with India
NOVOSIBIRSK, June 21. /TASS/. Russia may help India to train its astronauts in the future, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Wednesday.
"In prospect, it is possible to train Indian astronauts on the basis of our center of Roscosmos," Rogozin told the meeting of a bilateral high-level commission for cooperation in advanced technologies for military and civilian purposes.
Rogozin also said he informed India’s Finance Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley about the prospects of Russia’s manned spacecraft and the development of the International Space Station (ISS).
"But we should see the prospect after 2024," Rogozin said. "I believe we could discuss cooperation between Russia and India in this area as part of the commission." He explained that it is also possible to gain profit due to creating new generation spacecraft for the Earth’s remote sensing, navigation, communications and researches of the far space.
The deputy prime minister noted that India "has made serious headway in this area" and Russia is carefully watching the success of its Indian partners. "We believe it’s time for a more large-scale cooperation in this area," he stressed.
So that sounds like a useful idea - since the Indian govt is hesitant on going whole-hog in formally announcing a Human Spaceflight Program (due to the sizeable pricetag of Rs.40,000Cr),
Space is inevitably going to involve more and more international cooperation and coordination, so joint training could play a useful role in creating necessary familiarity with each other's practices, as well as promoting common best practices, etc.
40,000 Cr spend would be peanuts for GOI. At 2017 budget the infrastructure spend alone is Rs 3,96,135 crore.
It is all about what benefits a human inside a drum in orbit would provide for the amount spent.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/budget-2017-10-measures-to-boost-indias-infrastructure/articleshow/56909732.cms
An regarding space cooperation... all finally boils down to business and hard $$$. With the Cryo engine technology transfer fiasco with USSR - Russia - USA, Chandrayaan -2 Russian Rover project flip flops,
and .... Aah do you remember the early Insat being hit by crane ? and solar panels getting stuck in orbit....
ISRO would take space cooperation with pinch of salt.
ISRO Chairman AS Kiran Kumar said that though the launch of the human mission is still some time away, a pad abort test would be conducted.
"In the earlier tests that were carried, the crew module had taken off from the launch site and had reached a certain altitude after which it was brought down. In this test, we can find out how to get the crew from the launch pad in the eventuality of an emergency at the launch pad itself," Kumar said.
ANI | Updated: Feb 16, 2018 17:51 IST
New Delhi [India], Feb.16 (ANI): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready with technologies needed for human space missions and only political clearance is needed, according to a senior professor.
Delivering the spotlight address at the fourth ORF-Kalpana Chawla Space Dialogue here today, B N Suresh, Honorary Distinguished Professor of the ISRO, said as far as ISRO is concerned, its team is ready to undertake such missions.
Pad abort test article shipped from SAC in march of 2017. No test one year later. I think they might have forgotten about human spaceflight program.
Pad abort test article shipped from SAC in march of 2017. No test one year later. I think they might have forgotten about human spaceflight program.or there are other priorities right now.
Pad abort test article shipped from SAC in march of 2017. No test one year later. I think they might have forgotten about human spaceflight program.or there are other priorities right now.
ISRO has only carried out one launch in the last 6 months so i dont think that is it. The infrastructure upgrades needed for pad abort test have been ready since last september along with funding so at this point in time there should be nothing stopping them carrying out a pad abort test.
In the post-event speech for the GSLV F-08 launch, ISRO chief Dr K Sivan mentions something about a technology demonstration mission relating to human spaceflight - which mission is he talking about?
It's mentioned near the end of his remarks @1:19:17