Author: Pradeep

  • GSLV on Wikipedia

    Note: I wrote this on my earlier blog hosted as http://parallelspirals.wordpress.com/. I recovered the text from the WayBack Machine. This post appeared on December 13, 2013 as per the permalink. I’m trying to collect here again all my old writings spread on various blogs.

    I began contributing to Wikipedia in 2007 with the idea of improving coverage of Indian space sciences on Wikipedia. I began working on the articles related to the astronomical observatories. This also fell in line with the space popularization work I was involved in at Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) India chapter. In 2009, I also began editing general interest articles on Wikipedia.

    It was only yesterday, after a break of nearly a year or more, that I got back to editing on Wikipedia. I worked on the article of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle or GSLV. The upcoming launch has me nervous and had me interested in the history of the GSLV. I looked to Wikipedia as my first port of call and was frankly, disappointed at the shape in which I found the article. So, I rolled up my sleeves and began working on the article, in true Wikipedian style.

    The history of the GSLV is as interesting as the vehicle itself. It was designed specifically to carry the INSAT class of satellites which weighed in at 2 to 2.5 tons. The Project was started in 1990 as the PSLV took shape and was beginning to move towards a development flight in 1993 to reduce reliance on the US’ Delta and European Ariane launch vehicles which are expensive options. Reading up, there seems to have been confusion on how to proceed with the tricky cryogenic third stage of the vehicle. Both US and Europe refused to share the technology and India had to go to the crumbling Soviet Union for help. US and Europe refused help pointing to the fact that India had not signed the Missile Technology Control Regime. I guess they also tried to offer the technology if India became part of the regime. The Soviet Glavkosmos offered to transfer technology to India in 1991. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia could not stand up to US pressure on falling in line with the MTCR. It finally have India just 7 cryogenic stages and 1 ground mock up instead of 5 stages and transfer of technology. I am happy that India did not become part of MTCR despite immense pressure and need for cryogenic technology. Scientists at ISRO began work on India’s own cryogenic technology in 1994 called the Cryogenic Upper Stage Project.

    Even the 7 cryogenic stages Russia supplied to ISRO held surprise for ISRO. The stage was heavier and there were interface problems. The engine was also not proven on any flight. It took ISRO about 6-7 years to get the stage to fly at all. Hence you see the first flight of the GSLV in 2001.

    Scientists working on the Cryogenic Project were also part of what is now called the ISRO Spy Case. The scientist has alleged that the Case was put together at the behest of foreign interests that were trying to scuttle Indian efforts at building a cryogenic engine.

    Although the learning curve on the GSLV has been huge, I think it will help India build a vehicle that is as versatile as the PSLV is today.

  • How to Watch Poirot?

    As a school kid, we devoured Agatha Christies at the rate of two a week. Part of the secret was that we began reading the book at page 72 or thereabouts.

    We discovered this into our fourth Agatha Christie, the version of white cover Christies we had in school started around Page 72. Till then Christie spent her time describing characters, villas and the countryside, something that our young minds did not have the patience to wade through. The murder usually took place on this page.

    I believe a similar strategy would be needed to watch the show as well. The shows seem to be 2 part affairs. Having read all of the Poirots, it makes sense to watch only the second part. This would reduce watching to thrice a week and ensure I have some well needed sleep.

  • First Trajectory Correction Maneuver of Mars Orbiter Mission tomorrow

    Tomorrow, as I will be celebrating my brother’s birthday, the Mars Orbiter spacecraft will perform the first of the four trajectory corrections on its path to Mars.

    A Facebook update posted just now revealed that the spacecraft will fire its 22 N thrusters for about 44 seconds at 6:30 am (IST).

    Best wishes to ISRO and birthday wishes to my brother 

    :)

  • The Age of the GSLV Mk III

    India’s GSLV Programme has always been tumultuous. It began in the 1990s in a bid to become self-reliant in launching communications satellite. Indian satellites were being launched primarily on the European Ariane-V launch vehicles. These are an expensive affair.

    The story seems to be that India, unable to develop its own cryogenic engine fast enough, purchased them from Russia. It then build modified versions of the PSLV first stage solid fuel and second stage liquid fuelled engine to build the GSLV Mk-I. Sanctions imposed on India after the nuclear tests in Pokhran and US pressure allowed India to obtain only 7 Russian cryogenic engines in the late 1990s. Of these 6 engines have been used flying the successful GSLV-D2 and GSLV-F01; and GSLV-D1, GSLV-F02, GSLV-F04 and GSLV-D4, all of which ended up being failures. In the meanwhile, India having developed its own cryogenic engine tested it flying the GSLV-D3, which was a failure. India now hopes to test the cryogenic engine again for the GSLV-D5 in January, 2014.

    The GSLV programme reminds me of the ASLV programme or at least my reading of that programme. Of the four flights, only one was successful. The five stage all solid fuel carrier rocket lofted 150 kg to LEO is said to be India’s “rites of passage” into the launch vehicle technology. I see the GSLV as a similar rites of passage into the heavy lift capability. I think the ASLV was dumped faster than the GSLV because we didn’t have that much time or money to waste. ISRO is slightly better off today and we’re looking for a success with the indigenous cryogenic technology design, a breakthrough we’ve not had yet, before we move on. Like ASLV was moved on to the PSLV.

    The learnings from the GSLV Mk-II programme, in my opinion, will power the Mk-III programme’s success. The first experimental launch is planned to be done in 2014.

  • SpaceX’s Historic Launch Success

    SpaceX successfully delivered SES-8 communication satellite into a geostationary orbit today. I did not pay too much attention in the build up to this launch. It was Michael Belfiore’s blog post that woke me up to the significance of this launch.

    In Indian terms, there is nothing much to compare with since India does not commercially launch communication satellites into orbit. GSLV cost for the last launch was pegged at ₹180 crores. SpaceX’s current launch cost to the customer is said to be $60 million compared to $260 million which is said to be the current industry standard. This seems to me to be similar to Reliance’s introduction of the ₹1/minute call charges in the nineties that has revolutionised the Indian telecom industry.

    With more proven flights of SpaceX, India should perhaps consider switching to SpaceX as a standby launch partner instead of Arianespace.

    Congratulations to SpaceX and wish it more success in the future as well!

  • Mars Orbiter moves out of Earth

    The Earth’s gravity has an effect on objects that passes through a giant sphere assumed to be 9.25 lakh kilometer in radius. This is known as the Earth’s Sphere of Influence. This distance is of interest to us tonight because the Mars Orbiter spacecraft will cross this milestone early tomorrow morning (December 4, 2013) at 1:15 AM IST.

    It has already become the farthest Indian object in outer space and slated to go further out as it heads to Mars. Out of the Earth’s sphere of influence, the principal gravity acting on the spacecraft will mostly be the Sun. This pushes the orbiter along the heliocentric trajectory towards Mars.

    One of the many milestones that MOM crosses en route to Mars. ISRO is certainly doing its best on Facebook to keep the activity alive and kicking on this 10 month long journey to the Red Planet.

  • Long March 3B launches Chang’e 3

    After watching the Trans-Mars Injection till 2 in the morning, I really wanted to sleep early. However, not having watched a single Chinese launch and having access to CCTV News channel changed my mind and made me endure another night of half-sleep. I am so happy to have made that decision.

    As a payload, Chang’e 3 is a rough equivalent to our own Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft. The launch vehicle, China’s Long March 3B is slightly more powerful than the under-development GSLV Mk-III that India has. The Long March 3B can loft a 5 ton payload to the GTO compared to the 4 ton capability of the MK-III.

    I switched on the TV about half an hour into the launch as they were fuelling the cryogenic third stage of the rocket. The four tower flashlight were focused on the launch vehicle. Since I had the TV on mute (others in my house had gone to sleep) the ignition and lift off caught me unawares.

    The next surprise was the on-board cameras that were reminiscent of the space shuttle launches. As the launch vehicle cleared the launch pad and the vehicle slowly moved out of the visible range, the transmission quickly switched to the on board camera view. An animation along side showed the status. The four strap-ons separated followed by the separation of the first stage. The camera then switched to show the payload, Chang’e 3 in what appeared to be gold foil similar to what I’ve seen on Indian spacecrafts. As the second stage separated the camera switched to a view just above the twin nozzled third stage of the vehicle. An animation explained the position of the spacecraft and how the three ships in the Pacific were in constant communication with the spacecraft. It even showed the third stage lit up when the engines were burning and off when the stage was coasting in space. The view suddenly changed to the one on top of the third stage and under the Chang’e 3.

    What came next were stunning visuals of the Earth’s horizon on the left and just as beautifully the spacecraft separated. It was accompanied with a lot of dust particles that rained like confetti celebrating the separation. We also saw stunning visuals of the attitude control thrusts.

    The sunlight reflected off the spacecrafts gold foil making it look like an extremely bright object. Slowly the camera panned towards the Earth. It seems the stage was moved 90 degrees so that the top of the third stage pointed Earth. As the visual of Earth lingered strangely CCTV News went off air for me. I took that as a signal for me to head off to bed.

    On Twitter I heard news of the solar panel deployment and the announcement of the successful completion of the Long March 3B’s launch campaign. Placed on a direct trajectory to the Moon, the orbiter and lander and rover will reach the Moon on December 6 and the lander will make a soft landing on the Sinius Iridium on December 14.

    Congratulations, China and Godspeed! Chang’e 3!!

  • Journalists get a peek at the Mars Orbiter Mission

    Journalists from India (AFAIK) got a peek into the Mars Orbiter Mission spacecraft on Wednesday. The PTI copy was meticulous but dry. Pallava Bagla at NDTV still insists on calling it Mangalyaan. The other interesting pieces appeared in The Hindu and The Times of India respectively. Might also be worth looking at the links to see pictures of the spacecraft. I wish ISRO put up some pics as well so that poor bloggers like me sitting at home can post them on the blog without having to worry about copyright violations.

    The Mars Orbiter Mission, as ISRO calls it, has come through a rather demanding timeline in terms of space projects to enable it to launch during the October-November 2013 launch window that has opened up to Mars as it closes on its opposition to Earth.  At the previous such opportunity in 2011, the Russians launched the long pending Phobos-Grunt mission to Mars. China piggybacked on the mission with its own small spacecraft the YH-1.

    India also hopes to send a relatively small spacecraft to Mars. The Orbiter will launch on ISRO’s dependable rocket, PSLV using extended strap-ons. The launch itself will be set against the dramatic backdrop of the North-Eastern monsoon and the beginning of the cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal.

    As per press reports, the spacecraft will move to Sriharikota from the ISRO Satellite Center on September 27. This will be after a “national review” which is to be held on September 19. The spacecraft will be integrated on the PSLV-C25, being currently assembled at the Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota. This PSLV-XL will have slightly larger strap-on motors. The spacecraft will fly from Sriharikota and will use the help of two civilians ships in the south Pacific ocean en-route to the red planet. The spacecraft will take one year to reach Mars. In September 2014, the spacecraft will perform the critical Mars orbit injection maneuver. The first signals from the spacecraft will be received by the NASA Deep Space Network at Canberra, Australia.

    As we prepare, September will be a month of action for ISRO. As it works on the spacecraft to ensure that it is space-worthy, two civilian ships will be sent to the south Pacific ocean on September 15, 2013 from Visakhapatnam. These will help during the phase after launch and whilst the spacecraft will be headed to Mars.

    This page maintained by NASA lists mission failures of the Mission to Mars is a good indicator on why it is a good idea to leave no gaps in mission planning to Mars. Spacecrafts have wide open areas for failure – reaching Earth orbit, the coast to Mars, reaching Mars orbit and perhaps even whilst the orbiter is in orbit. One can but hope.

    Here’s wishing India’s Mars Orbiter Mission Godspeed on its journey to Mars.

  • CryptoParty in Mumbai

    The Free Software Movement Maharashtra in association with the Software Freedom Law Centre organised a Cryptoparty in Mumbai yesterday. The event was scheduled between 10 AM and 1 PM.

    Having organised Wikipedia meetups in the city, I understand how difficult it is to get a good venue for the event. But, an event could be considered useless if it’s not timed properly. Most people perhaps with the exception of IT firms work on Saturdays. So, I do not understand why the timings were kept so. Also, perhaps a time little more to the evening say like 4 PM to 7 PM or even 3 PM to 6 PM, would make it a possibility for people to leave early to work to attend the event.

    One of the reports from the event is here.

  • How Chembur’s Changed

    It has been a little over nine months since I returned from my old workplace in Bharuch, Gujarat. In this time, I’ve been lazy enough to not go out for my evening stroll through Chembur. Today, I finally made the time. I am totally amazed at the ongoing change in what was once a lazy eastern suburb of Mumbai.

    Walking out of Chheda Nagar, I see concrete and steel rise up into the air, the beginning of the Santacruz – Chembur Link Road. The project was scheduled to open in 2008 and recent reports suggest that it will not be open even in 2013. The World Bank funded project that is being built to enhance East to West connectivity has also marred some of the stunning views of sunsets and the visual observation of the planet Venus that I was offered on my evening walks. But, as the board says, Thank you for putting up with this inconvenience now to enjoy a better tomorrow.

    The Sky Walks are the next treat. The concept conceived by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) in 2007 as a way of de-congesting the area near the railway stations has been built over old shady roads that were my walking ground in days of college. It has also made me change my decade old walking path. To it’s credit, it’s not as shoddily designed and is built over a route that commuters are used to and helps them avoid going down and climbing up a flight of stairs each.

    The old BEST bus stand at Ambedkar Garden now has a commercial complex consisting of shops at the ground level and houses hospitals and coaching classes at the upper levels. It now becomes easier for kids stressed out at coaching classes to visit the doctor, I guess. The bus goes beyond this structure at the back of which the pass counters and conductors rest places have been built.

    The Central Avenue Road that stretches from the Chembur Railway Station to Diamond Garden on the Sion – Panvel Highway. This road, once a road sided with shade trees and independence era bungalows on both sides of the road, are now lined with high rises and buildings which houses several banks that have opened branches here.

    On the return road through Ahobila Mutt, Sandu Garden, Chembur Head Post Office down to the market, things almost remain the same. Here too, there are some changes. The hall where my first year birthday party was held stands torn down. The hall, my father jokes, would not have seen any event more important than my birthday party. Through the gap one can see the Monorail station coming up. Usually I was able to see the Fine Arts Society, where I gained training in carnatic vocal music as a kid. As I go to the base of the Chembur market bridge I see a skeleton of the Sky walk that would connect the monorail station to the railway station.

    As I walk to the corner store at Amar Mahal to grab a Coke, I am thankful for something remaining the same in the past decade. I do not believe that humans are built to witness this speed or scale of change around us. I think we need these things – parks, buildings and corner stores that are permanent so that we can sit, observe and contemplate on the fast changes that have been transforming Chembur. Whether for good or bad, now, only time will tell.