Space Technology |1|

Space Technology  Astronauts

nauts are trained and equipped to withstand
Scope: the microgravity conditions.
1. Keywords. 3) Orbit:
2. History of Indian Space Programme.  The curved path of an object or spacecraft or
3. Types of Orbits. satellite around a Star, Planet or Moon is called an
4. Types of Launch Vehicles. Orbit.
5. Types of Satellites.
6. Applications of Space Technology in everyday life
7. Space Missions of India
8. Indigenization of Space Technologies
9. Achievementss of India and Indians in the field of
Space.
10. Emerging /recent developments in space Technology.

Keywords
1) Space: It is a 3 dimensional region that begins where
the earth’s atmosphere ends.
 Generally satellites revolve in a defined orbit.
Example: Moon, INSATNSAT satellites, etc
 Space crafts may or may not revolve in a
designated orbit.
Ex: Voyager 1, 2; Chandrayan 2, etc.
etc
4) Satellite:
 A Satellite is a body that revolves around another
object. A Satellite cab be either Manmade (Ex:
Astrosat) or Natural (Moon).
Outer Space Treaty, 1967- 5) Space Craft:
All member countries under treaty agreed for-  Space craft is an artificial object made to revolve
 No Weapons of Mass Destruction in Space. around another Planet or Planets other than
 No placement of Nuclear Weapons in Space. Earth. Ex:Chandrayn
Chandrayn 1, 2, MOM; Voyager-1,2,
Voyager etc.
 Co-operation
operation & Transparency in the Outer Space 6) Rocket:
operations.  A rocket is a vehicle that is used to provide thrust
 No claim of sovereignty over celestial bodies or for an object. It can be used as a missile or a
the celestial objects. launch vehicle. It consists of - fuel & oxidizer,
2) Microgravity : together called as propellant and the engine.
 Gravity is thee force exerted by an object on the 7) Launch Vehicle:
other object. It is proportional to the mass of the  Launch vehicle is a type of rocket that is used to
object. place satellites or space crafts into the Space.
 In Space, gravity conditions vary as one move Ex: PSLV, GSLV, GSLV MK III
from one body to another. 8) Telescope:
 Microgravity is the condition of less gravity/low  It is an optical instrument designed to make
gravity situation in the space. distant objects clearers & appear nearer.

www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com

Space Technology |2|

Ex: Hubble Telescope – NASA’s one of the most

famous and the largest astronomical satellite.
9) Perigee, Apogee
Perigee- It is the point in a satellite’s elliptical path
around the Earth at which it is closest to Earth’s
center.
Apogee- It is the point of maximum distance between
the satellite and the center of the Earth.
10) Lagrange Point:
It is a location in space where the combined 12) Satellite Frequency bands.
gravitational forces of two large bodies such as Earth Satellites are used for radio communications,
and the Sun or the Earth and the Moon, equal the astronomy, weather forecasting, broadcasting,
centrifugal force felt by a much smaller third body. mapping and many more applications.
The interaction of forces creates a point of Information to for all these purposes can be sent and
equilibrium where a space craft may be “Parked to received at different frequencies.
make observations. Halo Orbit- It is an Orbit around
the Lagrange Points.

History of Space Program:

 13thCE—Chinese
Chinese created rocket to launch la
11. Van Allen Radiation Belts- gunpowder filled tubes.
It is a zone of charged particles. These energetic  1940’s V2Rocket—Modrn Modrn form of rocket developed
particles are trapped at high altitudes in Earth’s by Germany. Germany used them during WW-II,
WW but
magnetic field. the guidance system failed.
These are intense over Equator and is absent over the  After WW-II, II, during cold war period, technology
Poles. They contain charged particles of both solar race started between USA & former USSR.
and atmospheric origin. They are not part of our  1957- Sputnik 1, 2 Satellites by USSR
atmosphere and are extended into space much  1958 – Explorer -1 1 Satellite by USA.
beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.  1961- USSR launched VOSTOK & sent humans to
space; Yuri Gagarin is the first human to enter into
the Space.
 1964 – SYNCOM-3 3 was launched by USA using this it
has live telecasted the Tokyo Olympics.
 1969 – Apollo 11 – USA landed humans on Moon.

Evolution of Space Program in India:

1. 1961- Department of Atomic Energy was entrusted
with the subject of Space Research.

www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com

Space Technology
2. 1962- INCOSPAR- Indian National Committee for Space
Research was formed under DAE.
3. 1696- INCOSPAR was reconstituted as ISRO (Indian
Space Research Organization).
4. 1972- GOI established Space Commission and Dept of
Space and ISRO were brought under DOS.
Experiments:
1. 1963- The launch of first Sounding Rocket, US made
“Nike Apache” was launched nched from Thumba near
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (St.Mary Magdalene
Church)
2. 1965-Rohini
Rohini Series of Sounding Rockets developed
and experimented successfully. (Indigenous).
3. 1975- First Indian Satellite” Aryabhata” was
launched from Soviet Launch Pad.
4. 1981- APPLE- Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment
– India’s First Indigenous communication satellite
was launched.
5. SLV – Successfully attested in 1980 4stage launch
vehicle- All soil stages.
6. ASLV- Tested in 1987. It is a 5 stage launch vehicle –
all soil stages.
7. PSLV- 1994 – first successful launched vehicle used
to send operational satellites – 4 stages with
alternate solid & liquid stage.
8. GSLV-2001 – successfully launched with the
Cryogenic engine procured from Russia.
9. GSLV MK-III – Successfully launched in 2014 with
indigenous cryogenic engine.
[3 stage – Solid-Liquid-Cryogenic
Cryogenic (Liquid Hydrogen
Hydrogen-
Liquid Oxygen)].
www.laex.in Space Technology
|3|
Types of Orbits
Orbits are categorized into various types based on
the height, centricity and the inclination.
Karman line is the altitude where space begins.
Generally it is at 62 miles or 100 km.
Typess of Orbits Based on the Height.
1. Low Earth Orbit-
 LEO is the orbit where most of the satellites are
placed. It ranges between (180 km-
km 2000km).
 Most of the Remote Sensing satellites are placed in
this orbit.
Ex: International Space Station, IRS series satellites
are placed in LEO.
 In general satellites are first placed in LEO and then
transferred to GEO.
 Each orbit is associated with certain speed. As LEO is
near to the Earth, the gravitation pull
pu on the satellites
in this orbit is also more. To overcome this, orbital
speed of the satellite placed in LEO is more.
 Satellites place in LEO orbit generally circle the Earth
once in 90min.
2. Middle Earth Orbit-
 The range of this orbit is between (2000km –
35,780km).
 Generally it takes 12 hrs for the satellite to complete
one rotation around Earth.
Ex: Communication satellites to cover Polar Regions;
Earth Observation Satellites, GPS, etc
3. High Earth Orbit-
 The range of this orbit is from 35,780KM and above.
ab
 When the height of orbit is 35,780KM, the orbital
speed of the satellite becomes equal to the Earth’s
rotational speed.
www.civilsprep.com
Space Technology
 So, this orbit at this height is called as Geo
Synchronous (GSyO) or Geo Stationary Orbit (GSO).
Ex: Communication Satellites & Weather Monitors
Satellites are place in GSO/GSyO.
Types of Orbits based on Eccentricity:
Eccentricity refers to shape of an Orbit. Eccentricity of
an orbit indicates deviation of the orbit from a perfect
circle.
 A Satellite with a low eccentricity Orbit moves in near
circle around the Earth.
 An eccentric orbit is elliptical, with the satellites
distance from the Earth changing depending on
where it is in its orbit.
 Eccentric Orbits are used as Transfer Orbits.
Types of Orbits based on inclination:
Inclination is the angle of the Orbit in relation to Earth’s
equator.
 A Satellite that orbits directly above the equator has
zero inclination.
www.laex.in Space Technology
|4|
 If a satellite orbits from the North Pole to South Pole,
it inclination is 90 degrees.
degrees These are called Polar
Orbit Satellites.
Types of Launch Vehicles
A launch vehicle is the type of rocket which is used to
place satellite or spacecrafts into space.
In India there are 4 generations of launch vehicles.
1. 1st Generation: Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV)
2. 2nd Generation: Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle
(ASLV)
3. 3rdGeneation: Polar Satellite launch Vehicle (PSLV)
4. 4thGeneration: Geo Synchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV)
GSLV MK-III III is the advanced version with indigenous
Cryogenic Engine.
PSLV (Polar Satellite
llite Launch Vehicle):
Vehicle)
 PSLV earned its title he workhorse of ISRO through
consistently delivering various satellites to low Earth
Orbits, Particularly the IRS satellites.
 It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with
the liquid stages.
 Since 1994,
994, PSLV is used to place many satellites into
the orbits.
 Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series satellites are the
major group of satellites that are placed using PSLV.
www.civilsprep.com
Space Technology |5|

 Ex: CARTOSAT, OCEANSAT, RISAT, etc are place using Cryogenic Technology: Is the technology of materials
PSLV. at very low temperatures, below-153˚C (Boiling point
 Chanrayan-1, MOM is launched using PSLV. (PSLVC-II), of Methane).
(PSLVC-25). Cryogenic Rocket technology uses Cryogenic fuel. It is
more efficient as it provides more thrust for every kg of
 IRNNS (Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System) -
propellant compared to solid and earth storable liquid
Constellation of 7 Satellites, are place in GTO using PSLV. propellant.
GSLV-(Geo Synchronous Satellites Launch Vehicle)
Cryogenic Fuel: Hydrogen@--183˚C, Oxygen@-253˚C
 GSLV has enhanced India’s capacity to place heavier
(Oxidizer)
satellites in both SSPO and GTO. Advantages of Constraints of
 It is a 3 stage launch vehicle powered by solid-Liquid- Cryogenic Fuel Cryogenic Fuel
Cryogenic engines. 1. High Fuel density 1. Difficult to storage
 GSLV is used to place communication satellites into GTO. 2. Automatic Cooling of engine 2. Expensive
3. Power density is high 3. Health problems in
 INSAT & GSAT Satellites are launched from this launch
4. Cleaner Fuel. case of leakage.
vehicle.
 GSLV MK-III is first tested in 2014. In its first operational Other Launch Vehicle Technologies
launch it has successfully tested the CARE (Crew Module ISRO has other launch vehicle technologies like
Atmospheric RE-Entry Experiment) in 2014. 1. RLV-TD
 CE-20, indigenous cryogenic engine was used in this. 2. Scramjet Engine-TD.
 Recently, Chandrayan-2 mission was launched using RLV-TD:
GSLV-MK-III.  Reusable Launch Vehicle—Technology Demonstration
Differences between PSLV and GSLV is one of the most technologically challenging
Element PSLV GSLV GSLV Mk III endeavors of ISRO.
First  Reusability of launch vehicle enables low cost access
1993 2001 2014
Test
to space.
No. of
4 3 3  It combines both launch vehicle configuration as well
stages
Solid- as an aircraft configuration.
Solid- Solid- Liquid-
Fuel Liquid-  RLV-TD was successfully tested in 2016.
Liquid- Cryogenic
Composi Cryogenic
Solid- (Indigenous Scramjet TD:
tion (Russian
Liquid engine- C20)  Scramjet engine is an Air Breathing Propulsion
borrowed)
LEO-1750 LEO- System.
Payload kg 4000kg LEO- 8000kg  Scramjet engine uses hydrogen as fuel and oxygen
capacity GTO- GTO- GTO- 4000kg
from the atmosphere air as the oxidizer.
1425kg 2000kg
It paves the way  Scramjet engine-TD was successfully tested by ISRO in
for- 2016. ISRO is the fourth country to successfully
 Reliable  India’s manned demonstrate this technology.
launch space mission
Use of Sacrament Engine:
vehicle  Self reliance in
Significa  Used to space program  Most of the satellite launch vehicles that carrying
nce launch  Launching propellants out of the total propellant, 70% of it is
Chandra heavier oxidize
yan satellites
 If the launch vehicle can take the oxygen from
1,MOM especially the
communication atmosphere, it is weight can be considerably reduced.
satellites Overall cost of launching the satellites also reduces.

www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com

Space Technology |6|

 If scramjet engines are combined with RLV, the Future object or scene being observed. Reflected sunlight is
space programs become more efficient and cost the most common source of radiation measured by
effective. passive sensors.
Differences between Ramjet and Scramjet Engine
Scramjet (Supersonic
Ramjet
Combustion Ramjet)
The combustion in the The combustion in the
combustion chamber combustion chamber
Generally remote sensing satellites are placed in Low
happens at sub-sonic happens at super super-sonic
Earth Orbit (LEO) but some remote sensing
speeds speeds
instruments can also be placed in Geo Stationary
Orbit (GSO).
Indian Remote Sensing Program (IRS Program):
Program)
 Following the successful demonstration of Bhaskar-1
Bhaskar
& Bhaskara-2 2 in 1979 & 1981, India began the
development of IRS program.
Both Ramjet and Scramjet engies doesn’t have the
 Starting with IRS-1A
1A in 1988, ISRO has launched many
moving parts inside. Both move at Supersonic speeds.
operational remote sensing satellites.
The difference
nce is only at the combustion stage.
 India has one of the largest constellations of remote
sensing satellites in operation.
Types and Applications of Satellites
Examples: Sun-synchronous
synchronous orbit-RESOURCESAT-1,
orbit 2,
2A CARTOSAT-1, 1, 2, 2A, 2B, RISAT-1
RISAT and 2, OCEANSAT-
2, Megha- Tropiques,
piques, SARAL and SCATSAT-1
SCATSAT
Geostationary orbit- INSAT--3D, Kalpana & INSAT 3A,
INSAT -3DR.
Applications of Remote Sensing Satellites:
The data from the Earth Observation satellites/
Remote Sensing Satellites are used for several
I. Remote Sensing Satellites: applications covering agriculture, water resources,
 Remote sensing is the acquiring of information from a urban planning, rural development, mineral
distance. These are also called as Earth Observation prospecting, environment, forestry, ocean resources
Satellites. and disaster management.
 Typically remote sensing satellites
ellites are fitted with 1. Agriculture
sensors and high resolution cameras.  Agriculture Land Monitoring
 Remote sensing instruments (Sensors) are of two  Cropping System Analysis
primary types— active and passive.  Crop loss estimation (Ex: Damage estimation
est
Active Sensors,, provide their own source of energy to for insurance)
illuminate the objects they observe. An active sensor  Soil mapping
emits
mits radiation in the direction of the target to be  Pest/Disease Detection & Incidence
investigated. The sensor then detects and measures Forecasting
the radiation that is reflected or backscattered from  Inland Fishery Development (Ex: HySIS)
the target.  Spraying pesticides.
Passive Sensors,, on the other hand, detect natural
energy (radiation) that is emitted or reflected by the
www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com
Space Technology |7|

2. Urban Development 7. Energy

Renewable Energy potential estimation across the
country using satellite data
Ex: Solar Energy Estimation, Wind Energy Estimation
8. Ocean Sciences
 Indentifying Potential fishing zones
 Identifying Algal bloom Zones
 Coral Reef Protection.
EX: SARAL Altica, SCATSAT, OCEANSAT
 Urban planning (GIS-Geo Geo Mapping of Cities –
II. Communication Satellites
A direction of Supreme Court was rrecently
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that
given to Maharsratra to remove illegal
relays and amplifies radio telecommunications signals
constructions using Remote Sensing Data).
via a transponder.
 Property Estimation
It creates a communication channel between a
 Crowd Management
source transmitter and a receiver at different
3. Forestry & Environment
locations on Earth.
 Forest Fire warning
Transponder - Is a wireless communications device
 Coral bleaching studies
usually attached to a satellite.
 Mountain Forest studies
A transponder receives and transmits radio signals at
 Polar studies
a prescribed frequency range. After receiving the
 Grand Water Monitoring.
signal a transponder will at the same time broadcast
4. Mineral Mapping
the signal at a different frequency.
CARTOSAT and RISAT series satellites are used to
map prospective mineral zones.
5. Governance
 Bhuvan Portal is used for Geo tagging
applications to monitor infrastructural
projects and also to track the progress in the
projects.
 Watershed Monitoring
 Geo-MGNREGA
Indian National Satellite System (INSAT
(IN Program)
 Clean Ganga Mission
INSAT (Indian National Satellite System) was a
 Housing, Sanitation
multipurpose satellite system for
6. Water Resources Management.
telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology and
Ground Water, Surface Water Management
search and rescue services.
Ex: Bhuvan Bhujal provides comprehensive info
Commissioned in 1983, INSAT is the largest domestic
on Ground and Surface water resources.
communication system in the Asia-Pacific
As Region, and
Telangana Water Resources Information System
is a joint venture of the Indian Department of Space
(TWRIS) – It is State specific information on micro
(DOS), Department of Telecommunications, India
mapping of water resources in the state of
Meteorological Department, All India Radio and
Telangana.
Doordarshan.

www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com

Space Technology |8|

Applications: Indian Navigation Satellites:

Communications satellites are used for television,  Satellite Navigation service is an emerging satellite
telephone, radio, internet, and military applications. based system with commercial and strategic
1. Telecommunication applications.
2. Education—Satellite
Satellite Instructional Television
Experiment (1975) is a collaboration between ISRO There are two types of Navigational Satellite
& NASA. Edusat (2004) is the dedicated satellite Programs in India.
launched to serve the educational sector A. To meet thehe Civil Aviation requirements, ISRO is
3. Tele Medicine working jointly with Airport Authority of India
4. Mobile Satellite Services (AAI) in establishing the GPS Aided Geo
5. Village Resource Center Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system.
6. Satellite Navigation Program B. To meet the user requirements of the positioning,
7. Television Services navigation and timing services based on the
8. Disaster Management--- SAARC Satellites indigenous system, ISRO is establishing a regional
Geosynchronous Satellites) satellite navigation system called Indian Regional
III. Navigational Satellites: Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
Satellite navigation is a system that uses satellites to A. GAGAN:
provide autonomous geo-spatial
spatial positioning.
GPS Aided Geo Argument Navigation is a Satellite
It allows small electronic receivers to determine their
location to high precision. Based Augmentation System implemented jointly by
Navigation Satellites uses Trilateration method to Airports Authority of India (AAI) and ISRO.
determine the position of a particular object. Applications:
Trilateration:
Some of the benefits GAGAN is expected to bring for
 It is a sophisticated version of triangulation,
Civil Aviation sector are:
though it does not use the measurement of
 Safety benefits – Vertical guidance improves safety,
angles in its calculations. Instead it measures
especially in adverse weather conditions
distances.
 Reduction of circlingng approaches
 Data from a single satellite provides a general
location of a point within a large circular area on  Environmental benefits–Approach
Approach with Vertical
the Earth's surface. Guidance procedures will help facilitate better energy
 Adding data from a second satellite allows the and descent profile management during the final
GPS to narrow the specific location of that point approach
down to a region where the two areas of satellite  Global seamless navigation for all phases of flight
data overlap. including arrival, departure, oceanic
oc and en route
 Adding data from a third satellite provides an  Allow direct routings, multiple approaches resulting in
accurate position of the point nt on the Earth's considerable fuel savings to airlines and provide for
surface. capacity enhancement of airports and airspace
Background:
 In view of the limitations of the ground based
navigation systems, the t International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1993 endorsed a
global satellite based navigation system as the
future of air navigation system.
 In furtherance of this international
commitment, AAI and Indian Space Research

www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com

Space Technology
Organization (ISRO) entered
red into a MoU on
25.8.2001 for implementation of GAGAN
Project for seamless navigation over Indian air
space.
 Presently, similar systems are in operation in
USA, European countries etc.
 It is being ensured that GAGAN system is
interoperable with other similar
imilar systems
operational in the world.
Other applications include-
1. Vast Improvement in GPS accuracy.
2. Navigation safety enhancement in Civil Aviation,
Railways, Ships, Spacecraft, etc.
3. Geographic Data collection for atmospheric studies.
4. Location based services.
5. Naturall Resources & Land Management.
B. IRNSS (NAVIC Series)
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System
(Navigation with Indian Constellation).
 Independent navigation system developed by India.
 Its services area is Indian landmass+1500
landmass+1500KM.
 7 Satellites -3GSO+4GSyO
 Location accuracy is better than 20M
 Two types of Services.
o Standard Positioning Services
o Restricted Services.
Applications:
1. Territorial, aerial and marine Navigation.
2. Location based services-Fleet
Fleet Management.
3. Geographic data collection & Surveying
4. Disaster Management
www.laex.in Space Technology
|9|
Navigational Systems across the world-
world
Global Systems Regional Systems
GPS-USA QZSS(Quasi Zenith)-Japan
Zenith)
GLONASS-Russia NavIC-India
NavIC
Galileo-EU
BeiDou—China
IV. Defense Satellites:
 The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
launched a series of satellites with capabilities that
could be of significant use to the armed forces.
 CARTOSAT and RISAT came up to give India the
capability to keep an eye on Pakistan's activities along
the borders.
 India launched RISAT-1 1 in 2012; this remote sensing
satellite had radar reconnaissance imaging capability.
 With the launch of Cartosat 2E+ in June 2018, India
considerably enhanced its remote sensing capabilities
in space. Cartosat 2E+ was dubbed by many as India's
"eye in the sky".
 These satellites have surveillance and mapping
capabilities, and can be used to keep an eye on
enemies along the land and sea borders.
 Dedicated defense Communication satellites are
launched to provide reliable communication services.
o Ex: GSAT-7 – NAVY, GSAT-7A 7A – Air force and Army
 EMISAT is an Indian reconnaissance satellite which is
meant to provide space-based
based electronic intelligence
or ELINT. The spacecraft will help improve the
situational awareness of the Indian Armed Forces as it
will provide
rovide information and location of enemy radars
EMISAT is developed under DRDO’s Project Kautilya.
www.civilsprep.com
Space Technology |10|

V. Scientific Satellites:  Estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars;

 Indian space programme encompasses research in
areas like astronomy, astrophysics, planetary and
earth sciences, atmospheric sciencesnces and theoretical
physics.
 Balloons, sounding rockets, space platforms and
ground-based
based facilities support these research efforts.
A series of sounding rockets are available for
atmospheric experiments.
 Several scientific instruments have been flown o on
satellites especially to direct celestial X X-ray and
gamma-ray bursts.
 Astrosat, Mars Orbiter Mission, Chandrayan 1,
Chandrayan 2 are the scientific satellites and
spacecrafts of ISRO.
Astrosat:
 AstroSat is the first dedicated Indian astronomy
mission aimed
imed at studying celestial sources in X
X-ray,
optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously.
 The payloads cover the energy bands of Ultraviolet
(Near and Far), limited optical and X-ray
ray regime (0.3
keV to 100keV).
 One of the unique features of AstroSat mis
mission is that
it enables the simultaneous multi multi-wavelength
observations of various astronomical objects with a
single satellite.
 Study star birth regions and high energy processes in
star systems lying beyond our galaxy;
 Detect new briefly bright X-ray
ray sources in the sky;
 Perform a limited deep field survey of the
th Universe in
the Ultraviolet region
Achievements of Astrosat:
AstroSat has provided several new and exciting results
like-
 Solving the decade old puzzle of a cool red star but
bright in UV, by identifying it as a binary
 X-ray
ray polarization from Crab nebula
nebu
 Detection of a coronal explosion on the nearest
planet-hosting
hosting star (simultaneously observed by
NASA’s Chandra X-ray ray observatory and Hubble Space
Telescope.
Indian Space Missions:
Since the development of PSLV, India has indigenously
launched many satellites into the space. Development
of GSLV and reliability of PSLV have made many space
missions possible.

The scientific objectives of Astro Sat mission are:

 To understand high energy processes in binary star
systems containing neutron
tron stars and black holes;

www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com

Space Technology |11|

Already Experimented
Category Chandrayan-1 Mars Orbiter Mission Chadrayan-2
Launched
22ndOctober 2008 5th November 2013 22nd July 2019
in
Launched
PSLV-XL C11 PSLV-C25 GSLV Mk III
by
It consists of-
1.Methane Sensor for Mars
1. Lunar orbiter: It will map the lunar
(MSM):To measure methane in
surface and help to prepare 3D maps
the atmosphere of Mars
Scientific Payloads from of it with the help of Orbiter High
2. Mars Color Camera (MCC): It
India Resolution Camera (OHRC). OHRC
gives images and information
a) Terrain Mapping Camera conducted high-resolution
about the surface features and
(TMC) observations of the landing site prior
composition of Martian surface. It
b) Hyper Spectral Imager to separation of the Lander from the
is useful to monitor the dynamic
(HySI) orbiter.
events and weather of Mars like
c) Lunar Laser Ranging 2. Vikram Lander: To touch down
dust storms/atmospheric
Instrument (LLRI) softly on the moon's surface.
turbidity.
d) High Energy X - ray 3. Pragyan lunar rover: It is a robotic
3. Mars Exospheric Neutral
Spectrometer (HEX) vehicle.
Composition Analyzer (MENCA):
e) Moon Impact Probe(MIP) All were developed in India.
It is a quadrupole mass
Scientific Payloads from
Equipment analyzer capable of analyzing the
abroad Orbiter payloads-
s neutral composition of particles in
f) Chandrayaan-I X-ray 1. Terrain Mapping Camera 2 (TMC
the range of 1–300 amu (atomic
Spectrometer (CIXS) 2)
mass unit) with unit mass
g) Near Infrared 2. Chandrayaan 2 Large Area Soft X-
resolution.
Spectrometer (SIR - 2) ray Spectrometer (CLASS)
4. Thermal infrared Imaging
h) Sub keV Atom Reflecting 3. Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM)
Spectrometer (TIS): TIS measures
Analyzer (SARA) 4. Orbiter High Resolution Camera
the thermal emission and can be
i) Miniature Synthetic (OHRC)
operated during both day and
Aperture Radar (Mini SAR) 5. Imaging IR Spectrometer (IIRS)
night.
j) Moon Mineralogy Mapper 6. Dual Frequency Synthetic
5. Lyman Alpha Photometer
(M3) Aperture Radar (DFSAR)
(LAP): a photometer that
k) Radiation Dose Monitor 7. Chandrayaan 2 Atmospheric
measures the relative abundance
(RADOM) Compositional Explorer 2 (CHACE
of deuterium and hydrogen from
2)
Lyman-alpha emissions in the
8. Dual Frequency Radio Science
upper atmosphere.
(DFRS) experiment
1.To design, develop, launch 1.Exploration of Mars surface
and orbit a spacecraft features by studying the
around the Moon using an morphology, topography and
Indian-made launch-vehicle mineralogy 1. To demonstrate the ability to soft-
2.To conduct scientific land on the lunar surface and operate
2.Study the constituents of
experiments using a robotic rover on the surface.
Martian atmosphere
instruments on the 2. Scientific goals include orbital
Objectives including methane and CO2 using
spacecraft which would yield studies of lunar
remote sensing techniques
data: topography, mineralogy, elemental
(a) for the preparation of a 3.Study the dynamics of the abundance, the lunar exosphere, and
three-dimensional atlas (with upper atmosphere of Mars, signatures of hydroxyl and water ice.
high spatial and altitude effects of solar wind and radiation
resolution of 5–10 m or 16– and the escape of volatiles to
33 ft) of both the near and far outer space

www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com

Space Technology |12|

sides of the Moon

(b) For chemical and
mineralogical mapping of the
entire lunar surface
rface at high
spatial resolution.
3.To increase scientific
knowledge
4.To test the impact of a sub
sub-
satellite (Moon Impact
Probe – MIP) on the surface
of the Moon as a fore-runner
runner General Objectives:
for future soft-landing
landing 1. Push the boundaries of Scientific
missions Knowledge
2. Engage with public
3. Unleash innovation
4. Expand India’s footprint in Space
5. Explore economic possibilities
6. Foster shared aspirations
aspira of
International Community
1. The discovery of the
presence of Water / 1. First interplanetary mission
Hydroxyl molecules in lunar realized by India and first Indian
soil detected by the Moon spacecraft to incorporate full
Mineralogy Measuring scale on-board autonomy to
Instrument (M3) of NASA as overcome the long distances and
well as the mass the communication gaps due to
spectrometer in MIP is a non-visibility periods.
major breakthrough that at 2. First Indian spacecraft to
would change the face of successfully survive Van Allen
lunar exploration. belt crossing 39 times.
2. Mini-Synthetic
Synthetic Aperture 3. First mission to use Ship Borne Attempted to soft-land
soft a rover there,
Radar (Mini-SAR)
SAR) instrument Terminals to track the launch a feat achieved by only three countries
indicated existence of sub vehicle and satellite over Pacific -- the US, Russia and China.
Achieveme surface water-ice
ice deposits in Ocean by ISRO. But, Vikram Lander not being able to
nts the northern lunar craters of 4. First Indian spacecraft to soft-land
land a rover on the Moon.
permanent sun shadow escape the Sphere Of Influence of ISRO lost contact with Vikram in the
region. Earth and orbit Sun. penultimate moments when it was
5. First Mars mission in the world just 2.1 km above Moon's surface.
surf
3. The impact probe's to succeed Mars Orbit Insertion in
Chandra's Altitudinal
tudinal first attempt.
Composition (CHACE) 6. Most economical
recorded direct evidence of interplanetary mission in the
water in 650 mass spectra world and paved way for cost-
gathered in the thin effective access to deep space.
atmosphere above the The launch vehicle, Spacecraft
Moon's surface. and Ground Segment have been
4. Moon Mineralogy Mapper realized with a budget of Rs 450
has discovered new rock Cr.
types which are very small.

www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com

Space Technology |13|

Future Programmes:
Aditya-L1 Gaganyan
Will be
By April 2020. December 2021
launched in
Launched by
PSLV GSLV Mk III
ISRO
So far, USA, RUSSIA and China have launched human space flight
missions.
Aditya L1 will be placed in L1 point from
As part of the manned Gagayaan mission, India aims to send a 3- 3
a distance of 1.5million km from the
person crew to space for a period of seven days, with the spacecraft
Earth.
Launch placed in a low Earth orbit of up between 300-400km.
300
A Satellite placed in the halo orbit
Specification Specifications—Target: 2022
around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the
s  Crew Module Weight: 7 Tons
Sun-Earth
Earth system has the major
o Crew:3 Members
advantage of continuously viewing the
o Cost: 10,000 Cr
Sun without any occultation/ eclipses.
o Time: 3days
o Orbit: LEO
Scientific Objectives- Scientific Objectives-
1. To study the diagnostic parameters of 1. Conducting studies in the microgravity environment
solar corona and dynamics and origin of 2. To achieve higher level reliability in launch and satellite
coronal mass ejections (using three technology.
visible and one infra-red
red channels); Other Objectives-
Objectives
2. To study the magnetic field 1. Enhancement of S&T levels in the country.
measurements
surements of the solar corona down 2. Collaboration between various institutes, academia and industry.
to tens of Gauss. 3. Improvement in Industrial Growth.
3. To provide observations of Sun's 4. Development of technology for social benefits
photosphere, chromosphere and corona. 5. Improving international collaboration.
Aditya Mission was conceptualized in 2008
by the Advisory Committee for Space
Research.
It was initially envisaged as a small 400 kg,
low-Earth
Earth orbiting satellite with
The government has already cleared a budget of Rs100 billion for the
a coronagraph to study the solar corona.
manned mission.
An experimental budget of 3 Crore INR
ISRO developed some critical technologies-
was allocated for the financial year 2016
2016—
1. Reentry mission capability
2017.
2. Crew escape system
As of July 2019, the mission has an
3. Crew module configuration
allocated cost of ₹378.53 crore excluding
4. Deceleration and flotation system
launch costs.
5. Sub systems of life supporting system.
Technological and Logistical capabilities to
India’s 6. Thermal Protection System
launch this mission are already there with
Preparednes Demonstration:
ISRO.
s 1. Space capsule Recovery Experiment(SRE-2007)
Experiment(SRE
2. Crew Module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment (CARE-2014)
(CARE
3. Pad Abort Test (2018)
Other developments-
1. Human Space Center is establisheded to accomplish this task.
2. Astronaut Training with Russian collaboration is under way.
3. Indigenously Space Suits are developed.
4. Collaborations in life supporting subsystems are going on with
France and other domestic institutions.

www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com

Space Technology |14|

India’s Space Station: Launched first fully operational satellite aboard a

1997
 India plans to have its own space station and modalities locally developed rocket PSLV.
for it will be worked out after the first manned mission, 2002 Kalpana-1: First dedicated meteorological satellite
Gaganyaan. EDUSAT (GSAT-3): 1st Indian Satellite built
2004
exclusively to serve the educational sector.
 The proposed space station is envisaged to weigh 20
Launch of INSAT-4A from European Launch
tones and serve as a facility where astronauts can stay 2005 Vehicle: the first satellite to meet the requirement
for 15-20 days. of DTH Television Services.
 It would be placed in an orbit 400 km above earth. Launch of Chandrayaan-1: Beginning of ISRO's
 If successful, India will be the 4th country to set up a 2008 Historic Moon Mission
space station on its own after Russia, the US and China. IRNSS-1A Navigation Satellite
 Nearly $120 billion was spent on the ISS. MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission): India is the first
2013 nation to succeed on its first attempt to reach
 ISS likely to be wound up in 2028, so China's space
Mars.
station is likely to be the only crewed space station left. Made World Record by launching 104 satellites
 ISRO says it is a natural extension of India's human space simultaneously through the PSLV C-37 (38th
programme and is needed to keep leadership in the 2017 successful mission of PSLV in a row)
space arena. GSLV Mark-III (the heaviest rocket ever made by
India)
Indigenization of Space Technology
Launch of India's Heaviest Communication
1. Solar Photo Voltaic cells 201
Satellite GSAT-11
2. Rohini Series Sounding Rockets(RHS)
3. VIKAS- liquid propulsion engine. Emerging Issues
4. Cryogenic Engine—CE20 Space Debris:
5. Li-Ion batteries.  Space debris encompasses both natural (meteoroid) and
Achievements of India in Space Technology artificial (man-made) particles.
1. PSLV  Meteoroids are in orbit about the sun, while most
2. GSLV MK-III artificial debris is in orbit about the Earth. Hence, the
latter is more commonly referred to as orbital debris.
3. MOM (Successful in its first attempt)
4. RLV-TD  Orbital debris is any man-made object in orbit about the
5. Chandrayan-1(Found water on Moon) Earth which no longer serves a useful function.
6. Astrosat (Multi wavelength Spectrometer)  Space debris could be floating particles from dead
7. Multiple satellites into multiple orbits in one launch satellites or rocket parts that stay in orbit for many
(2017). years.
 Even a speck of paint or fragment floating towards their
Year Achievement spacecraft can disable on board electronics and cripples
1975 India's first satellite 'Aryabhata' was launched the satellite worth several hundred crore rupees besides
Bhaskara-1 Satellites under Mission Rohini were many services that run on it.
1979
launched
Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE) -
 Agencies constantly look for debris at the time of a
198 ISRO's first indigenous, experimental launch and through the life of a satellite.
communication satellite. Extent of the Problem:
Commissioning of the Indian National Satellite
 There are more than 20,000 pieces of debris larger than
(INSAT) System: One of the largest domestic
198 a softball orbiting the Earth.
communication satellite systems in the Asia
Pacific Region.  They travel at speeds up to 17,500 mph, fast enough for
Rakesh Sharma made history by becoming first a relatively small piece of orbital debris to damage a
1984
and only Indian to travel to Space in Soviet Rocket satellite or a spacecraft.
1988 Launch of first remote sensing mission IRS-1A.
First multi-purpose satellite INSAT-2A was
1992
successfully operationalized.

www.laex.in Space Technology www.civilsprep.com

Space Technology
 There are 500,000 pieces of debris the size of a marble
or larger. There are many millions of pieces of debris
that are so small they can’t be tracked.
 Even tiny paint flecks can damage a spacecraft when
traveling at these velocities. In fact a number of space
shuttle windows have been replaced because of damage
caused by material that was analyzed and shown to be
paint flecks.
Project NETRA:
 Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) initiated
‘Project NETRA’ – an early warning system in space to
detect debris and other hazards to Indian satellites.
 Currently there are 15 functional Indian communication
satellites in the geostationary orbit of 36,000 km; 13
remote sensing satellites in LEO of up to 2,000 km; and
eight navigation satellites in medium earth orbits.
Under NETRA, or Network for space object Tracking
and Analysis, the ISRO plans to put up many
observational facilities:
1. Connected radars, telescopes;
2. Data processing units and
3. Control centre.
Advantages of Project NETRA:
 The project will give India its own capability in space
situational awareness (SSA) like the other space powers
— which is used to ‘predict’ threats from debris to
Indian satellites.
 It also goes so far as to serve as an unstated warning
against missile or space attack for the country.
 Our SSA will first be for low-earth orbits or LEO which
have remote-sensing spacecraft.
 They can, among others, spot, track and catalogue
objects as small as 10 cm, up to a range of 3,400 km and
equal to a space orbit of around 2,000 km.
 NETRA’s eventual goal is to capture the GEO, or
geostationary orbit, scene at 36,000 km where
communication satellites operate.
 NORAD, or the North American Aerospace Defense
Command, is an initiative of the U.S. and Canada that
shares selective debris data with many countries.
 More importantly, the SSA also has a military quotient to
it and adds a new ring to the country’s overall security,
as space and defense experts read it.
www.laex.in Space Technology
|15|
 NORAD, too, uses satellites, ground and air radars to secure
its two countries against attacks from air, space or sea.
 Combined with other elements of military intelligence, he
said SSA would help us to understand motives behind any
suspicious orbit changes of other satellites and to know if
they were spying on or harming our spacecraft.
LIGO India Project:
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
(LIGO) - India is a planned advanced gravitational-wave
observatory to be located in India as part of the worldwide
network. This is planned at Hingoli district of Maharashtra.
LIGO-India is envisaged as a collaborative project between
a consortium of Indian research institutions and the LIGO
Laboratory in USA, along with its international partners.
The LIGO-India project will be built by the Department of
Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Department of Science and
Technology (DST), Government of India, with a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National
Science Foundation (NSF), USA, along with several national
and international research and academic institutions.
The project is being led by four institutions:
(i) Indore’s Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology
(RRCAT): It will provide its expertise in lasers and laser
technology;
(ii) Pune’s Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and
Astrophysics (IUCAA): It will provide the scientific teams,
scientific data computation and data acquisition;
(iii) Gandhinagar’s Institute for Plasma Research (IPR): It will
contribute in cryogenic and high vacuum systems for the
prestigious project.
Gravitational Waves:
 Gravitational waves are ripples in the curvature of
space-time which propagate as waves, travelling
outward from the source at the speed of light.
 They transport energy as gravitational radiation and
pass through matter without interacting with it.
 Gravitational waves were first predicted in 1916 by
Albert Einstein on the basis of his Theory of General
Relativity.
 Strongest sources of gravitational waves:
o Black holes,
o Supernova,
o Neutron stars and
o Big bang.
Significance: Information extracted by these
transmitted waves will help to address unsolved
questions and mysteries of physics and astronomy.
www.civilsprep.com