Can ISRO Repeat Its Magic?

After the remarkable success of the recent Mars Mission, the levels of expectations from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have been sky high. People have become more optimistic about the new missions to space. The 29hr countdown for the launch of the GSLV D5 (Geo Synchronous Launch Vehicle) will begin around 11:20am on Jan 4^{th .} GSLV D5 piggy backs communication satellite GSAT-14 weighing 1,982 kg scheduled to take off on Jan 5^th at 4:18 pm. GSLV D5 is  ISRO’s indigenous cryogenic engines are getting ready for crucial testing. The indigenously built satellite GSAT-14 has six Extended C bands and six Ku band transponders to aid in digital audio broadcasting and for providing communication services to teleeducation and telemedicine. It is expected to function for over 10 years and will replace the GSAT-3(EDUSAT) which has been orbiting for over a decade.

The 161 feet tall, GSLV weighing 640 tonne at liftoff, belongs to the GSLV-Mk III series. It is the heaviest rocket built in India. The launch vehicle along with its satellite would carry the spirits of the ISRO scientists, who want to break the jinx of launching the heavy vehicle. Following the initiation of the GSLV project and its first flight in 2001, ISRO could register three successful launches out of the seven launch attempts. The last attempt in August 2013 to launch GSLV D5 had to be called off as launch officials detected a leak in the Hydrazine tank of the rocket’s second stage. Hence the much anticipated return- to- flight of the GSLV assumes greater significance as ISRO scientists has toiled hard to nail down all the technical glitches. To this end, the solid first stage and the core base shroud has been thoroughly inspected and replaced. The vehicle’s four–strap on engines have been replaced. The most significant objective of this mission is to test the indigenously built third stage cryogenic upper stage (CUS). ISRO scientists are very keen about testing the functioning of CUS, as this replaces the Russian Cryogenic engines which were used in rocket’s earlier experimental flights.

After the failure of GSLV D3 in April 2010 which had the indigenously built engine, ISRO scientists went back to their drawing board and revisited the entire design of GSLV. GSLV D3 blew up mid-air minutes after the launch. Having learnt from the failures of previous launches, extensive testing and large-scale modifications have been made in GSLV-D5. Accordingly several changes have been incorporated which includes a redesign of the shroud portion of launch vehicle to protect the cryogenic engine better, reinforcement of the wire tunnel to withstand higher pressure and some improvements to the aerodynamic characteristics of the launch vehicle. Even the fuel booster turbo pump and the ignition sequence of the cryogenic engine have been redesigned as this was thought to be one of the reasons for earlier failures.  For the first time High Altitude ignition testing for ignition of the cryogenic engine has been carried out by simulating vacuum like conditions to ensure a successful launch.

India needs to master the technology of building big launch vehicles. Currently, the Indian work horse PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) has proven its launch capability by launching 58 (23 Indian and 35 foreign) satellites so far. PSLV are capable of carrying remote sensing satellites which are lighter and are placed in polar orbits. These satellites weigh from few hundred kilograms to about a tonne. Polar orbits are the orbits in which satellites don’t move in tandem with the rotation of the earth and hence they are not suitable for communication. The cost efficiency and the reliability of PSLVs have been established in the segment of the smaller satellites. India already boasts of 30 to 35% cheaper launches than other countries. Whereas Communication satellites are heavier, weighing 2 to 5 tonnes need big boosters in the GSLV series of vehicles to hoist these satellites into the  geosynchronous orbits 36,000km above the equator, where the satellite moves in tandem to earth’s rotation and hence service of satellite is available to the user all the time.

India has to establish its credentials in the launching the heavier communication satellites where the scope for real business of global satellite launching lies. Hence powerful GSLV Mark IIIs (like the GSLV-D5) containing the cryogenic engines are needed to carry five-tonne satellites. These engines have fuels hydrogen and oxygen in liquid form capable of producing enormous thrust per unit mass. These fuels are stored in extremely low temperatures to maintain them in liquid state. The cryogenic engines are powered by very less fuel than otherwise be needed. These fuels are indeed very clean as they produce huge amounts of water while burning. Hence a successful GSLV-D5 flight will make India only the sixth nation, joining the elite club of nations that include United States, Russia, France, Japan and China.

 Unfortunately India’s journey towards the cryogenic motor development has been jittery. India has initiated GSLV project in 1990 and signed a contract with Russia for supply of 7 cryogenic engines of 7.5 tons thrust along with the transfer of cryogenic technology. But in 1993, the US severely objected Russia selling cryogenic technology to India as this would be a violation under the Missile technology Control regime (MTCR). MTCR is an informal agreement and voluntary partnership between 34 members. The regime was formed by the G-7 industrial nations-US, UK, France, Canada, Italy, Germany and Japan with an objective of limiting the proliferation of the missiles and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology capable of carrying 500kg payload at least 300km. It has 34 members which includes Russia.  As per MTCR guidelines, members established a “no undercut” policy means if a member denies sale of technology to another country, then the policy has to be strictly adhered by all other members. Thus now 117 nations enforce restrictions on exports to control the proliferation of UAV’s.  

Hence ISRO has been single-handedly working for developing this technology which is so zealously protected by all nations. More over the technology was denied as business interests of Europe, Russia and the US would be severely threatened by the arrival of India in this heavy vehicle-launch business. Indeed it is a great blessing that nations have shut down their doors as Indian scientists would be forced to develop the technology thus reducing our reliability on foreign launchers like European Space Agency’s Ariane to launch the communication satellites.

The successful launch of the GSLV can spear head ambitious projects like Chandrayaan-2, another Mars mission, and a manned vehicle into orbit for building space stations. For now, all eyes are focussed on the successful launch of the GSLV-D5, for India to clinch its rightful share in the ever emerging market of $300 billion dollars satellite launch services.

 

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