Latest news with #VNarayanan
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
Crewed missions ahead, Isro needs zero-flaw operations
The May 18 failure of India's workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket to deliver sophisticated earth observation satellite EOS-09 to its intended orbit in space is a hard knock for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The four-stage PSLV-C61 launcher lifted off with the EOS-09 satellite sharp at 5.59 am from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The first two stages performed reliably, but the problem began after the third stage fired. The PSLV-C61 lost thrust, and the remaining third and the fourth stage (latter nestling EOS-09) crashed into the sea. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan suspects it happened due to a fall in pressure in the PSLV-C61's third-stage motor chamber carrying Hydroxyl-terminated Polybutadiene as the solid propellant. Rocket propulsion experts understand that pressure in a rocket motor's combustion chamber can fall due to changes in the burning rate and surface area of the propellant or from issues within the nozzle, whether erosion or burning surface area. This caused a loss of thrust, preventing the PSLV-C61 from reaching the intended altitude of 534 km to release EOS-09 in its orbit and crashing about five minutes after launch.
NDTV
7 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
ISRO Rocket Fails 7 Minutes Into Flight, National Panel Set Up To Find Out Why
New Delhi: ISRO could not accomplish the launch of a key Earth observation satellite on Sunday after the rocket carrying it, the workhorse PSLV-C61, failed mid-air, less than seven minutes after it took off. Determined to find the root cause of the failure, the space agency has set up a National Failure Analysis Committee and a complete audit of the rocket is underway, with all systems being reviewed thoroughly. The committee, more than half of whose members are from premier institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), is expected to submit its report around the middle of next month. A set of voluminous data has already been shared with the panel. ISRO has also set up several internal committees to scrutinise every aspect of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which is a highly dependable rocket, with a reliability of over 94% and just four failures in 63 launches - an enviable track record. Sources in the space agency said only the PSLV, and no other rocket, has been put on hold since its third stage uses a solid fuel motor, which is unique to it. The final call, they indicated, will be taken on future launches only after the National Failure Analysis Committee submits its report and ISRO fixes the problem. Giving an analogy, an expert said each rocket is like a child. "If one child falls down, can you ask the entire village to stop walking?" he quipped. A notice to airmen (or NOTAM), has, meanwhile, already been issued for the launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-2 or GSLV F-16 to fly between June 18 and July 17. The rocket, initially dubbed 'ISRO's naughty boy' and eventually tamed, is all set to fly the world's most expensive civilian Earth imaging satellite, named the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite or NISAR. It has been built by India and the US at a cost of $1.5 billion. Third-Stage Issue NDTV had earlier reported that a 'misbehaviour' of the third stage rocket motor may have contributed to the failure of the PSLV-C61, which was launching the EOS-9 surveillance satellite. The PSLV-C61 was travelling at 20,160 km per hour - about 28 times the speed of an airplane - when, some 888 km downrange from Sriharikota over the Indian Ocean, it tumbled down 6.26 minutes into its nearly 18-minute flight. Experts say the third stage did not explode, as speculated. In fact, as the rocket coasted along while losing altitude and thrust, even the fourth stage was probably ignited. It is still being analysed why the rocket motor "misbehaved" 100 seconds after it ignited the third stage. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said there was a "fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case". Dr G Madhavan Nair, former Chairman of ISRO, a rocket specialist who played a key role as project director in mastering the PSLV rocket, estimates that a "possible rupture in the fibre casing of the nearly 8-tonne rocket motor could have been the cause of the failure". This remains the main suspect, but all angles are being investigated. The PSLV is a much-sought-after vehicle globally and India's launch site offers a unique location to maximally use its potential.
India Today
23-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Bharatiya Antariksh Station to weigh 50 tonnes, confirms Isro chief
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is preparing to launch its own space station into orbit, marking a historic leap in India's space ambitions, Isro Chairman V Narayanan announced on upcoming space station, expected to weigh over 50 tonnes, will further cement India's position among the world's leading spacefaring on the sidelines of a programme at Ram Mohan Mission, Narayanan highlighted the crucial role of India's 57 operational satellites, which provide vital services ranging from weather forecasting to tele-education in remote He also emphasised the Department of Space's ongoing collaboration with various agencies to ensure the safety and security of India's vast borders, including its 11,500 km coastline and northern frontiers. India is readying for Gaganyaan Mission. (Photo: Isro) Addressing concerns over the recent PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission setback, Narayanan described it as an exception in Isro's otherwise stellar record. He assured that the failure would not derail future projects, including the highly anticipated Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. 'Gaganyaan's first mission will be an uncrewed test flight, expected to launch in the coming days, followed by two crewed missions in the near future,' he is also advancing its lunar exploration programme, with Chandrayaan-4 set to return lunar samples within the next two-and-a-half years. Meanwhile, Chandrayaan-5, a collaborative mission with Japan, will feature a 6,400 kg lander carrying a 350 kg rover, designed for a 100-day mission on the Moon. For comparison, the successful Chandrayaan-3 lander weighed 1,600 kg and carried a 25 kg rover."Right now, we (Isro) are also working on Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5. Chandrayaan-5, in collaboration with Japan. It will have a life span of 100 days," he these bold initiatives, Isro continues to inspire the nation and expand India's footprint in space Watch
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
23-05-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
ISRO chief V Narayanan says 2025 very important, declares it Gaganyaan year
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief V Narayanan highlighted the importance of 2025, which has been declared the "Gaganyaan" year. The ISRO chief said that 7200 tests have been completed as of now, and 3000 tests are pending. The Gaganyaan Programme, approved in December 2018, envisages human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and establishing technologies required for a long-term Indian human space exploration endeavour. V Narayanan was speaking at an event in Kolkata on Thursday. "This year is a very important year for us. We have declared it Gaganyaan year. Before sending the humans, we have planned three uncrewed missions and the first uncrewed mission is planned this year... Till date, more than 7200 tests have been completed and about 3000 tests are pending, work is going on 24 hours", V Narayanan said. V Narayanan expressed his happiness over the completion of SpaDeX mission. He asserted that ISRO "accounted for ten kilos of fuel to do this mission." He further informed that a number of missions are planned in 2025 which includes a NASA-ISRO synthetic aperture radar satellite, which will be launched by India's own launch vehicle. "Today, we are happy to report that the SpaDeX mission has been successfully completed. We accounted ten kilos of fuel to do this mission, but we did it with only half the fuel and the rest of the fuel is available, and in the coming months, you will hear that a lot of experiments are planned... This year, a number of important missions are planned and there is going to be a NASA-ISRO synthetic aperture radar satellite and it will be launched by our own launch vehicle and we are going to have a commercial mission and a communication satellite for commercial aspects, which we are going to launch", he added. According to ISRO's official website, the SpaDex mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission that uses two small spacecraft launched by PSLV to demonstrate in-space docking. The ISRO chief said that by December 2025, the first uncrewed mission to be called as "Vyommitra", followed by two uncrewed missions, will be launched by ISRO. In contrast, the organisation targets the first human space flight by the first quarter of 2027. "By December this year, there will be the first uncrewed mission, followed by two uncrewed missions, and we are targeting the first human space flight by the first quarter of 2027. In fact, almost every month this year, a launch is scheduled. The first uncrewed mission with a robot called 'Vyommitra' will be launched by the end of this year", V Narayanan told reporters.
Times of Oman
23-05-2025
- Science
- Times of Oman
We have declared 2025 as Gaganyaan year: ISRO chief V Narayanan
Kolkata: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief V Narayanan highlighted the importance of 2025, which has been declared the "Gaganyaan" year. The ISRO chief said that 7200 tests have been completed as of now, and 3000 tests are pending. The Gaganyaan Programme, approved in December 2018, envisages human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and establishing technologies required for a long-term Indian human space exploration endeavour. V Narayanan was speaking at an event in Kolkata on Thursday. "This year is a very important year for us. We have declared it Gaganyaan year. Before sending the humans, we have planned three uncrewed missions and the first uncrewed mission is planned this year... Till date, more than 7200 tests have been completed and about 3000 tests are pending, work is going on 24 hours", V Narayanan said. V Narayanan expressed his happiness over the completion of SpaDeX mission. He asserted that ISRO "accounted for ten kilos of fuel to do this mission." He further informed that a number of missions are planned in 2025 which includes a NASA-ISRO synthetic aperture radar satellite, which will be launched by India's own launch vehicle. "Today, we are happy to report that the SpaDeX mission has been successfully completed. We accounted ten kilos of fuel to do this mission, but we did it with only half the fuel and the rest of the fuel is available, and in the coming months, you will hear that a lot of experiments are planned... This year, a number of important missions are planned and there is going to be a NASA-ISRO synthetic aperture radar satellite and it will be launched by our own launch vehicle and we are going to have a commercial mission and a communication satellite for commercial aspects, which we are going to launch", he added. According to ISRO's official website, the SpaDex mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission that uses two small spacecraft launched by PSLV to demonstrate in-space docking. The ISRO chief said that by December 2025, the first uncrewed mission to be called as "Vyommitra", followed by two uncrewed missions, will be launched by ISRO. In contrast, the organisation targets the first human space flight by the first quarter of 2027. "By December this year, there will be the first uncrewed mission, followed by two uncrewed missions, and we are targeting the first human space flight by the first quarter of 2027. In fact, almost every month this year, a launch is scheduled. The first uncrewed mission with a robot called 'Vyommitra' will be launched by the end of this year", V Narayanan told reporters.
