[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition - Orlando, Florida ()] 48th AIAA

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

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Strategic Perspectives and Technical Architecture

Overview of Indian Space Exploration Missions

Venkatesan Sundararajan Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

The Indian Space Program has been geared towards the utilization of space capabilities for societal benefits. In so doing, it

has formed a triad of telecommunications, remote sensing and meteorology missions for the past four decades since its

inception. The 1990s witnessed indigenous development of medium and heavy lift launch vehicles PSLV and GSLV, and

rapid national industrial growth through economic liberalization. These capabilities and a renewed global interest in lunar

and planetary exploration formed the basis for Indian initiatives towards a sustainable space exploration framework. The

successful launch of Chandrayaan-1, India‘s first deep space and lunar mission on October 22, 2008 and its ongoing high-

resolution mapping by eleven scientific instruments, including those provided by international agencies heralds the

beginning of Indian Space Exploration Program (ISEP). The newly evolving space exploration initiatives have broad political support and budget allocation. The ISEP consists of three distinct categories: (1) Space Science Missions (2) Lunar

and Planetary Exploration (Orbiter/ Rover) Missions and (3) Human Spaceflight Program.

This paper presents an overview of the space exploration missions being developed by Indian Space Research Organization

(ISRO). It provides a strategic framework to understand Indian space exploration perspectives and goals, technical

architecture and scientific objectives. An economic analysis is also carried out to evaluate the various missions and benefits

of international cooperation.

I. INTRODUCTION

ndian space exploration missions are a newly emerging trend as part of the primarily civilian application oriented program

of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The evolving space exploration program is a culmination of the

growth of Indian launchers with medium-heavy lift capability, maturation of the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) Satellite Bus

development, technology for thermal management and space power systems beyond Earth‘s orbit, development of deep

space communication network, and interest of the Indian scientific community with participation of Indian institutes in the

development of scientific instruments.

Steady growth of the Indian economy since the 1990s through rapid industrialization and integration with the global

economy by economic liberalization has played a significant role in India‘s quest for greater role in scientific pursuits of

grand scale including in achieving space exploration goals. The international space exploration scenario is also evolving

towards global collaboration led by NASA and ESA. The Asian space race among the space agencies of Japan, China and

India is an underlying factor in the context of space policy goals as space exploration ventures are seen as a showcase to the

world community of the national capabilities in technology, science, political stability and space prowess.

The founding vision of the Indian Space Program (ISP), which forms the guiding principle for ISRO, has been the exploitation of space for Earth observation through self-reliant development in satellites, launch vehicles and civilian

applications for the triad of telecommunications, remote-sensing and meteorology.1 Development of national industrial

capacity and technical expertise, promotion of national space science and research, and pursuit of scientific knowledge with

international collaboration have been a direct result of that vision. Commercial economic benefits derived from ISP through

sale of remote sensing data to private sector and foreign governments, opportunities to launch small/ medium satellites and

payloads for foreign agencies and institutes have been a recent but growing trend.

The emerging Indian Space Exploration Program (ISEP) is founded on the original vision of ISP but is also reflective of

the growing space capabilities of ISRO, political patronage through growing government budget allocation commensurate

with India‘s standing in the world as a major player in global economy, industry and technical workforce. The rapid rise of

China as a major space power with capabilities in the entire spectrum of space exploitation including human spaceflight is

also a key ingredient in the evolution of the Indian Space Policy. A significant element of the ISEP is the emphasis on

international cooperation that is complementary but of added value to the particular national mission. Chandrayaan-1,

India‘s first deep space mission, is evident to that principle as it carried six international instruments in addition to the Indian scientific instruments suite and Moon Impact Probe (MIP) of both scientific and political significance. The evolution and

importance of ISEP will continue to grow both within the ISP and in global space exploration missions in the early decades

of the 21st Century.

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48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition4 - 7 January 2010, Orlando, Florida

AIAA 2010-973

Copyright © 2010 by Venkatesan Sundararajan. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., with permission.


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II. STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK OF INDIAN SPACE PROGRAM

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the founding chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization from 1963 to 1972, is

considered as the Father of the Indian Space Program (ISP). His vision of developing indigenous space capability for the nation and utilizing the ISP for better socio-economic welfare of the citizens still forms the principal objective of the ISP.

Utilization of Space technology in India is primarily geared towards improving telecommunications, meteorological

forecasting, providing advanced natural disaster warning, distance education and remote sensing for agriculture, soil,

mineral and water resources management. Antrix Corporation, established in 1992 as the commercial arm of ISRO is

responsible for marketing Indian Earth Observation data, satellite building and launch opportunities to international

customers. The Indian government is also interested in developing private sector capabilities beyond parts fabrication

participation but as a full systems fabrication/ integrator of telecommunications and remote sensing satellites and in the

development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).2

The two main drivers of the Indian Space Policy are (1) Space Applications and (2) Space Development. The Indian government conducts the ISP through the Department of Space (DOS) and the Space Commission. The Space Commission

formulates the policies and oversees the implementation of the Indian space program to promote the development and

application of space research and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the country. The Advisory Committee on

Space Sciences (ADCOS) is the planning body responsible for the space science and exploration missions. 3

Indian Space Exploration Program (ISEP) for is a new effort within the ISP, though exploitation of space for

advancing fundamental research in space science and astronomical observation has always been one of the main objectives

of ISRO. Chandrayaan-1, India‘s first unmanned moon mission, launched on October 22, 2008 carried eleven scientific

instruments to prepare three-dimensional chemical and mineralogical mapping of the lunar surface. The payload consisted of five Indian instruments, two from NASA, three from ESA and one from Bulgaria. An Indian Moon Impact Probe (MIP)

consisting of altimeter, video imager and a mass spectrometer was released from the spacecraft‘s final lunar polar orbit of

100 KM above the moon's surface on November 14, 2008.4 Though the spacecraft‘s demise came before the planned two

year mission, the scientific instruments, in particular the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) from NASA, have dramatically

discovered surficial water in the Moon, linked to abundance of OH/H20 involving solar-wind interaction with lunar surface.5

Chandrayaan-1 marks the beginning of a new wave of deep space exploration missions by ISRO and it is slated to

be followed by Chandrayaan-2, a moon orbiter/ lander/ rover mission by 2013, a planned human spaceflight mission by

2015. Planetary exploration missions to Mars, Venus, Asteroids/ Comets are in the conceptual stage. Dedicated space

science missions such as the ASTROSAT astronomy observatory in 2010 and ADITYA to study solar coronal mass ejection

(CME) in 2012 are also scheduled. Follow-on space science missions are also in the concept/ design plan stages.6


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III. LUNAR AND PLANETARY EXPLORATION PROGRAM

The successful launch and the significant scientific discoveries from Chandrayaan-1, India‘s first unmanned mission to

the Moon, herald a new era in the ISP, that of a sustained Indian Space Exploration Program (ISEP). Chandrayaan-2 lunar Lander/ Rover by 2012, Mars Orbiter in low latitude (< 100 KM) by 2014-15 and Asteroid Orbiter/Comet Flyby by 2016-

18, Outer Solar System Flyby with advanced propulsion by 2019-20 are some of the upcoming planetary exploration

missions to be undertaken by ISRO as part of the ISEP.

The basic architecture for Chandrayaan-1 was derived from the IRS satellite bus, weighing 1380 kg with a single solar

panel generated power of 700 W. A Li-Fe battery provided backup power supply. The Indian baseline science payload

consisted of a Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC), a Hyper-Spectral Imager (HySI), a Low energy x-ray spectrometer, a High

Energy X-ray Spectrometer (HEX) and a Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI). These payloads provided simultaneous mineralogical, chemical and photo-geological remote-sensing data. NASA supplied a miniature imaging radar instrument

(Mini-SAR) to explore the polar regions of the moon and the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) for high resolution chemical

mapping. ESA provided a Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyser (SARA) for studying solar wind–lunar surface interactions

and lunar surface magnetic anomalies and a Radiation Dose Monitor (RADOM) for monitoring energetic particle flux en

route to the moon and in the lunar environment.7

Mission Chandrayaan-1 Lunar Orbiter Schematic of Chandrayaan-1 with its

11 Scientific Instruments and MIP

Credit: ISRO

International Partner Agencies:

(Payload providers):

1. NASA / JPL/ Brown Univ.

2. European Space Agency (ESA)

3. Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Objectives To place an unmanned spacecraft in an orbit around the moon

To conduct mineralogical and chemical mapping of the entire

lunar surface

To upgrade the technological base in the country for future

planetary missions

Timeline October 22, 2008 - August 29, 2009 (312 days)

Launcher/

Orbital

Maneuvers

PSLV – C11, an upgraded version of ISRO‘s Polar Satellite

Launch Vehicle standard configuration.

Onboard liquid engine with a 440 N was utilized to perform several orbit raising maneuvers and the spacecraft was placed

in a lunar polar orbit of 100 km on Nov. 8, 2008.

On November 14, 2008, the Moon Impact probe (MIP)

developed by ISRO successfully crash landed on the south

polar surface and is a forerunner for the Chandrayaan-2 lunar

lander/ rover mission. Characteristics India‘s First Deep Space and Planetary Mission, carried eleven

scientific instruments with five provided by international

agencies.

Chandrayaan-1 successfully completed its first high resolution

remote sensing of the entire Moon surface from a polar orbit of 100 km.

The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument onboard

Chandrayaan-1 has validated the lunar magma ocean

hypothesis.

Indian Deep Space Network (ISDN) and Indian Space Science

Data Center (ISSDC) have been established for the

Chandrayaan-1 and future lunar and planetary missions by

ISRO. All the ground segment elements necessary for

planetary exploration missions such as TTC and data

collection were validated through this mission.

Significant

Findings In September 2009, a breakthrough discovery, evidence of

formation of water molecules (OH/ H2O) on lunar surface was

confirmed by the data from the scientific instrument M3.

The Moon as a strong source of Hydrogen atoms was

discovered by another instrument, SARA.

Confirmation of micro-magnetic spheres on the far side of the

Moon that can be utilized by future human lunar exploration.


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The Chandrayaan-2 mission basic architecture consists of an Orbiter Craft (OC) and a Lunar Craft (LC) to carry a soft landing system up to Lunar Transfer Trajectory (LTT). The LC payloads would consist of a Lander and Rover component.

ISRO is responsible for developing the Orbiter and a small but agile rover while Russia is responsible for developing the

Lander and Rover. The scientific instruments are being finalized taking into account the scientific findings of the just

concluded Chanrayaan-1 mission. The Chandrayaan-2 mission is planned to be launched on PSLV/ GSLV by 2012-13.8

Mission Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Rover and Orbiter

Chandrayaan-2: Indian Lunar Rover

Credit: ISRO

International Partner:

Roscosmos – Lunar Lander and Rover

Objectives To design, realize and deploy a lunar Lander-

rover capable of soft landing on a specified

lunar site for in-situ studies.

Carry payloads in the orbiter that will enhance

and add to the scientific objectives of

Chandrayaan-1.

Develop & demonstrate newer technologies,

including those that will be useful for future

planetary missions (e.g. Sample return).

Timeline 2013

Launch Vehicle PSLV/ GSLV

Characteristics A joint-venture between ISRO and Roscosmos.

Consists of an Indian Moon Orbiter, Russian

Lander & Rover and Indian Mini-Rover.

Science objective - To investigate the origin and

evolution of the Moon with improved versions

of Chandrayaan-1 instruments for imaging,

mineralogy and chemistry, addition of alpha

and neutron spectrometers for studies of lunar

radiation environment.

Development of techniques to sustain spacecraft

in low orbit (~ 50 km) under low gravity

environment

In-situ analysis of lunar samples (regolith

properties) using Rover is also planned.

IV. SPACE BASED ASTRONOMY PROGRAM

From the beginning of the Indian Space Program (ISP) several Indian space application satellites have carried specific

instruments for astronomical observation, including the first Indian satellite ARYABHATTA launched on April 19, 1975.

ARYABHATTA conducted celestial X-ray, solar neutron, gamma and ionosphere experiments with a small power generation

capability of 40 W and weighing about 360 kg. During the 1990s, scientific instrument flown as piggy-back payloads onboard

Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series satellites carried out X-ray astronomy experiments. The first space based Gamma Ray

Bursts (GRB) observation experiment from India was flown onboard the satellite SROSS-C that was launched by ASLV on May

20, 1992. A second GRB monitor was flown aboard the SROSS -C2 satellite launched by ASLV on May 4, 1994.9

As part of the emerging space science and planetary exploration (ISEP) missions, for the first time, ISRO is planning to

launch a dedicated multi-wavelength astronomy satellite named ASTROSAT in 2010. ASTROSAT is conceived as a

national project, with international scientific payload contributions from Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Leicester

University, UK. The space based observatory will cover a wide band of the electromagnetic spectrum - soft X-rays (0.3–8 keV), hard X-rays (10–100 keV), near and far ultraviolet bands (120–300 nm) and visible band.10

ASTROSAT basic architecture consists of a three-axis stabilized satellite, with a capability for orientation maneuvers

and attitude control. It will have a pointing accuracy of about one arc-second. A solid-state recorder with 120 Gb storage

capacity will be used for on board storage of data. Two carriers at a rate of 105 Mb/s will transmit the payload data. The

total mass of ASTROSAT observatory is estimated to be 1650 kg including 868 kg mass of the scientific instruments. It will

be launched into a 650 km altitude circular orbit, with an orbital inclination of 8° by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle

(PSLV) from the launch center at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Shriharikota in 2010. ASTROSAT is expected to

have a minimum mission life of five years.11


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Mission ASTROSAT: Multi-wavelength Indian

Astronomy Satellite

Schematic of ASTROSAT

Indian Institutes Involved:

1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics

2. Raman Research Institute 3. Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and

Astrophysics

4. Nuclear Research Laboratory, Bhabha

Atomic Research Centre

5. Center for Space Research

6. S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic

Sciences

International Partners:

1. Canadian Space Agency

2. University of Leicester, U.K.

Objectives Simultaneous multi-wavelength monitoring

of intensity variations in a broad range of

cosmic sources

Monitoring the X-ray sky for new transients

Sky surveys in the hard X-ray and UV bands

Broadband spectroscopic studies of X-ray

binaries, AGN, SNRs, clusters of galaxies

and stellar coronae

Studies of periodic and non-periodic

variability of X-ray sources

Timeline 2010 - 2015

Launch Vehicle PSLV

Characteristics ASTROSAT (1,650 kg satellite) will carry the

following instruments weighing 868 kg.

Large Area Xenon Proportional

Counter (LAXPC) for Hard X-rays in

the energy range of 3 – 100 keV

Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) for

survey of sky in the energy range of 2

– 10 keV

Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride imager

(CZTI) for Hard X-rays in the energy range of 10 – 100 keV

Charge Particle Monitor (CPM) to

detect high energy particles during the

satellite orbital path and alert the

instrumentation

Soft X-Ray Telescope (SXT) for soft

X-rays in the energy range 0.3 – 10

keV

Canadian Space Agency provided

Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT)

for visible rays in the energy range 350-600 nm and UV rays in the energy

range 130-300 nm.

V. MICROGRAVITY SPACE CAPSULE RECOVERY EXPERIMENTS

ISRO has established a National Microgravity Research Program (NMRP) to organize both ground based and space

based research opportunities for Indian scientists with a program office within the Department of Metallurgy, Indian

Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.

The main objective of the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE) is to develop and demonstrate capability to

recover an orbiting capsule back to earth and to carryout micro-gravity experiments in orbit. The recoverable capsule (SRE-

1) was successfully launched onboard PSLV-C7 on January 10, 2007 and was also successfully recovered from the Bay of Bengal after reentry from orbit on January 22, 2007. The SRE-1 was covered with more than 350 insulating silica tiles, an

advanced thermal protection system (TPS), which were designed and manufactured indigenously. The SRE-I tested a host of

technologies in navigation, guidance and control systems, hypersonic aero-thermo dynamics, management of

communication black-out, deceleration and flotation systems. 12


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Mission Space Capsule Recovery Experiment

(SRE 1)

SRE-1

Credit: ISRO

SRE-1 Recovery from Indian Ocean

Credit: ISRO

Objectives To demonstrate the technology of orbiting a capsule

for performing experiments in microgravity

conditions of space, and after the completion of the

experiments, de-orbit and recover the capsule.

The SRE-I is a technological forerunner to India building a reusable launch vehicle (RLV).

Timeline January 10, 2007 (Launch)

January 22, 2007 (Recovery)

Launch Vehicle SRE-1 was launched by PSLV-C7 with CARTOSAT-2,

LAPAN-TUBSAT and PEHUENSAT-1 as co-

passengers.

Characteristics Technologies tested in SRE-1 include navigation,

guidance and control systems, hypersonic aero-

thermo dynamics, management of communication

black-out, deceleration and flotation systems.

The two experiments successfully conducted during

the SRE-1scientific mission were:

1. Biomimetic synthesis of the particles of the

inorganic chemical hydroxyapatite (a calcium-

nitrate based substance).

2. Growth of magnesium-zinc-gallium (Mg-Zn-Ga)

quasicrystals in an isothermal heating furnace

(IHF) through a ‗peritectic‘ reaction.

SRE-1 was placed in a circular polar orbit at an

altitude of 635 KM.

The SRE series is a technological forerunner for India in building a reusable launch vehicle (RLV) for cost-effective

missions. A follow on SRE-2 mission is planned for launch and recovery in 2010. The mission details are provided in the

following table.

Mission Space Capsule Recovery Experiment

(SRE 2)

Credit: ISRO

International Partner Agency: JAXA

Objectives Follow-up mission to SRE-1 with a scaled up

scientific experiments module.

Timeline 2010

Launch Vehicle

PSLV

Characteristics The three experiments to be conducted onboard SRE-2

are:

1. Growth of an E.coli cell in a bio-reactor and its

genomic studies on Earth. 2. To study the effect of microgravity on

photosynthesis on a culture of bacteria.

3. The effect of space radiation and microgravity on

seeds — of rice and medicinal plants.


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VI. HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT PROGRAM

The main objective of Indian Human Space Flight (HSF) program is to develop a fully autonomous manned space

vehicle to carry two crew to 400 km LEO and safe return to earth after mission duration of few orbits to two days extendable up to seven days, rendezvous and docking capability with space station / orbital platform, emergency mission abort and crew

rescue provision during any phase of the mission from lift off to landing and provision for extra vehicular activity.13

The HSF program would be executed in two phases at an estimated total developmental cost of $2.5 billion, including

the launch vehicle modifications and ground segment elements. In the first phase, an unmanned flight would be launched in

2013-14 and the second stage in 2014-15 would be a two-man mission using existing GSLV MK II vehicle with necessary

modifications for human rating. The various critical technologies envisaged by ISRO for the realization of the Indian HSF program

are depicted in the following table. A new launch pad with the addition of an on-pad emergency crew escape system (CES) for

astronauts is to be built in Sriharikota island on India's eastern coast for the proposed 2015 HSF program.The crew module

will be recovered from sea, either in the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea.14

Indian Human Space Flight (HSF) Program

Credit: ISRO

Credit: ISRO

International Partner Agency - Roscosmos

Objectives To develop a fully autonomous human space

vehicle to carry a crew of two to 400 km LEO

and safe return to earth after mission duration

of few orbits to 2 days, extendable up to 7 days

Timeline 2015-2020

Launch Vehicle GSLV MK II / GSLV MK III

Characteristics Development of the following critical

technologies for the Indian Human Spaceflight

program, namely,

1) Crew Module (CM)

2) Crew Escape System (CES)

3) Environment control and life support

system

4) Space suit and crew seat 5) Thermal protection systems

6) Crew health monitoring system

7) Mission Management involving

human intervention

8) Redundancy in Navigation, Guidance

and Control (NGC)

9) Advanced power bus

10) Crew training and facilities

11) HSF rated Launch Vehicle

12) HSF vehicle simulators

Development of a new launch facility for Human Spaceflight operations and an

Astronaut Training Center.

Allocation of Rupees 5,000 Crores (~ $1

Billion) for the period 2007-12 toward the

realization of the Indian Human Spaceflight

program (estimated at $2.5 Billion) by 2015/

2020.

India-Russia joint manned space mission, slated

for 2013 is expected to carry ISRO scientific

personnel on board a Russian spacecraft.


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VII. ISEP – LAUNCH VEHICLES AND GROND SEGMENT

Indian Space Exploration Program

- Launch Vehicles

PSLV Configuration

Credit: ISRO

GSLV MKIII Configuration

Credit: ISRO

PSLV PSLV is ISRO's workhorse launch vehicle and has proved its

reliability and versatility by launching multiple payloads to

SSO and GTO.

Chandrayaan-1 was launched by PSLV-XL, with four

propulsion stages (2 solid and 2 liquid) and 6 larger strap on

motors with12 tonnes of solid propellants.

GSLV

GSLV is configured with only three stages, employing solid,

liquid and cryogenic propulsion modules.

The cryogenic stage used in GSLV has a 7.5 t thrust with

propellant loading of 12 t. The propellants are liquid

oxygen (LOX), which boils at –182°C, and liquid hydrogen

(LH2), which boils at –253°C.

GSLV MKII with an indigenous cryogenic engine is slated

to be launched in January 2010 with GSAT-4 satellite. A human-rated MKII would be utilized for the HSF program.

GSLV MK III

(under

development)

GSLV MK III is being developed as a cost-effective LV for

placing up to 5 t INSAT series of telecommunication

satellites in the GEO with a lift off weight of 630 t.

It is a three-stage vehicle with two solid strap-on motors of

200 t propellant loading (World‘s third largest after Space

Shuttle and Araine 5) and liquid core of 110 t propellant

loading with the clustering of two engines.

The cryo-engine upper stage has a propellant loading of 25 t

with an estimated specific impulse of 445 seconds.

Development of GSLV MK III would enable the Indian

Space Program to undertake deep space missions beyond the orbits of Mars and into the outer solar system.

Indian Space Exploration Program

– Ground Segment

Credit: ISRO

Indian

Deep Space

Network

(IDSN)

IDSN consists of two large parabolic antennas – one with 18 m

diameter and another with 32 m diameter ‗seven mirror beam

waveguide system‘, situated at Byalalu, near Bangalore.

The downlink signals can be received at the antenna control

centre both in S-band and X-band.

Mission Control

and Science

Data

Management

ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command (ISTRAC) center

perform spacecraft control operations and TTC functions.

The Spacecraft Control Center (SCC) monitors the health of the spacecraft, performs orbital maneuvers and control operations.

A newly established Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC)

receives, stores, processes, achieves, retrieves and distributes

information sent scientific instruments from deep space

spacecrafts.

Raw payload data for each science payload is transferred to the

respective Payload Operations Centers (POC) for further

processing, analysis and generation of higher level data

products.

Establishment and commissioning of Space Science

Instrumentation Facility (SSIF) as a national facility for space

science payloads (Detectors/ Sensors).


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VIII. INDIAN SPACE EXPLORATION PROGRAM – ECONOMICS

The Indian space budget for 2009-10 is about $1.0 Billion and currently, India‘s investment in space translates to roughly

0.06 to 0.08 percent of its GDP. The Indian space budget has seen annual growth rates of between 10% and 24% over the

past five years. Given the importance of developing highly capable launch vehicles for self-reliance in access to space and to

avoid the technology denial regimes of political nature, about 43% of Indian space budget is allocated to this segment. Space

science represents about 6-8% of the budget.15 A study by the Madras School of Economics finds that the Indian Space

Program (ISP) generates $2 for every $1 spent. 16

The highly successful Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter mission had a total cost of less than $90 million including developing

Indian deep space network (IDSN). The premature demise of the first lunar mission also highlighted the need for further

development in advanced technologies pertinent to deep space environment such as thermal management, advanced

propulsion and power systems and miniaturization of science payloads. The satellite technology development segment

accounts for about 16% of the space budget. Antrix Corporation Limited is the commercial arm of Department of Space,

generating about $100 million in revenues by selling remote-sensing data and launch opportunities for foreign satellites.

The Indian Planning Commission had allocated about $1.74 billion (FY07) for the Indian Space Exploration Program

(ISEP), based on the recommendations of the Working Group on Space for the period 2007-12. The total estimated cost for

the Indian human spaceflight (HSF) program (Phase 1 – LEO) is about $2.5 billion. HSF program is awaiting parliament

approval. ISRO is also conducting a feasibility study of an Indian Lunar Human spaceflight (Phase 2) by 2020.17


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IX. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

The Indian Space Program (ISP) since its inception has been geared towards the utilization of space capabilities for the

socio-economic benefits of the citizens. The primarily application oriented program has evolved over the years to

include dedicated space science and lunar and planetary exploration missions for acquiring scientific knowledge. As a next logical step in its quest for the space frontier, ISRO has also initiated a human spaceflight (HSF) program.

The successful launch and the subsequent lunar exploration by remote-sensing from a polar orbit of 100 KM by Chandrayaan-1, India‘s first unmanned mission to the Moon, herald a new era for the Indian Space Program (ISP). The

scientific discoveries based on the data from the spacecraft‘s suite of eleven instruments augur well for the

establishment of a sustained Indian Space Exploration Program (ISEP).

The ISEP consists of three distinct categories: (1) Space Science Missions (2) Lunar and Planetary Exploration (Orbiter/ Rover) Missions and (3) Human Spaceflight Program. The newly evolving space exploration initiatives have broad

political and public support with growing annual budget allocation.

The Indian Human Spaceflight (HSF) program is currently in the design stage and is estimated to cost around $2.5

billion for the development of a fully autonomous space vehicle to carry two crew to 400 km LEO and safe return to

Earth. Once approved by the Indian parliament, the HSF would form the cornerstone of ISEP that would propel India into the select group of nations capable of sending humans to space and safe return to Earth – US, Russia and China.

The indigenous launch vehicles currently in operation, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous

Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV, MK II) along with the development of GSLV MK III provide India with a complete

set of medium-heavy launchers capable of not only meeting its space application program but also in undertaking

specific deep space missions. The GSLV MK II and MK III would form the basis for the human spaceflight launcher.

The design and development of human-rated launch vehicles, crew and service modules and space support infrastructure

necessary for such an ambitious HSF program would require an overall upgradation of the ISP and that of the nation‘s

technological and industrial capabilities. A catalytic role by Indian private enterprises by providing components for the

space elements and in developing the ground segment elements will be crucial for the success of the HSF program.

A number of critical infrastructure elements for supporting the ISEP have been established in the recent years. India has

established an Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) consisting of 18 m and 32 m antennas. The Indian Space Science

Data Center (ISSDC) forms the nerve center for collecting and disseminating data for both domestic and foreign

collaborators of ISEP missions. A Space Science Instrumentation Facility (SSIF) is also being established for the

indigenous development of advanced science instruments for the ISEP. The space sector ground infrastructure is spread

throughout the entire Indian landmass for better distribution of development across the different regions of the country.

As part of the development efforts for the Indian HSF program, an Astronaut Training Center to be completed by 2012 is

being setup in Bangalore by ISRO in collaboration with the Indian Air Force's Institute of Aviation Medicine, which is

also located on the outskirts of Bangalore. Among the astronaut facilities planned are a centrifuge and spacecraft

simulator. An ergonomic model of the crew module has already been fabricated.

The ISEP is geared towards self-reliant, indigenous capability in all facets of space exploitation including knowledge

acquisition and technology development for the nation. A central theme emerging from the various missions is the

positioning of India as a major space power and a significant collaborative partner for international agencies and as part

of the Global Space Exploration Framework for deep space exploration missions.

The Indian Space Program (ISP) spearheaded by ISRO has an annual budget of about $1.0 Billion with a strong technical

workforce of 16,000. An equal number of scientists and engineers are employed in the space related research institutes

and private enterprises. The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IISST) operating since 2007 ensures a

steady supply of future space scientists and engineers for the expanding Indian Space Program.

Capitalizing on the success of Chandrayaan-1 that carried six international instruments, future Indian Space Exploration

Program (ISEP) missions are envisaged to carry complementary instruments from international agencies. India‘s long

standing space cooperation with Russia, European Space Agency (ESA), JAXA and notably with NASA with a

reinvigorated emphasis on space science and in space exploration are poised to unlock many secrets of the heavens

through sustained, cost-effective and innovative space exploration ventures in the early decades of the 21st Century.

http://armedforces.nic.in/airforce/welcome.html


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REFERENCES 1K.R. Sridhara Murthy and H.N.Madhusudan, ―Strategic Considerations in Indian Space Programme – Towards

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[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition - Orlando, Florida ()] 48th AIAA