Aerospace Diary

by   Neelam Mathews  April 16, 2016 Recognizing the need for a regulatory framework for operating civilian unmanned aerial systems ( UAS s), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( FICCI ) has provided India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation initial guidelines that it hopes will form the basis of legislation. The final policy is expected to be released by year-end, Rajiv Nayan Choubey, India's secretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation, confirmed to  AIN  recently. Currently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation permits only government agencies to fly  UAS s in India. The Indian Space Research Organization has made a start to open operations to others by filing a request for proposal ( RFP ) for exploratory studies using  UAS s for remote sensing. An unidentified  U.S.  company is believed to have received a separate  RFP  from the Gas Authority of India for using  UAS s to inspect a ...

Jane's Airport Review Neelam Mathews , New Delhi Section: ATC Last posted: 2015-07-21 Images: 1 image The Airports Authority of  India  (AAI) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have officially implemented the GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) navigation system for Indian airspace - but airlines must still be convinced to adopt it. Two satellites (GSAT-8 and GSAT-10) in geostationary earth orbit are broadcasting signals for the Indian Flight Information Region (FIR). A second backup satellite called GSAT-15 will be launched in early 2016,  IHS Jane's  understands. The system is interoperable with other satellite-based augmentation systems (SBASs) to deliver precise positional data for airspace users: the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) in the  United States ; the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS); and the MTSAT Satellite Au...

ATC Neelam Mathews, New Delhi   - IHS Jane's Airport Review 20 July 2015     The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have officially implemented the GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) navigation system for Indian airspace - but airlines must still be convinced to adopt it. Two satellites (GSAT-8 and GSAT-10) in geostationary earth orbit are broadcasting signals for the Indian Flight Information Region (FIR). A second backup satellite called GSAT-15 will be launched in early 2016,  IHS Jane's  understands. The system is interoperable with other satellite-based augmentation systems (SBASs) to deliver precise positional data for airspace users: the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) in the United States; the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS); and the MTSAT Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS) in Japan......Read more (subscription) in Janes Airports........

by  Neelam Mathews  -  July 15, 2015, 10:15 AM I India's airlines worry about the high cost of equipage and certification associated with Gagan. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) India’s airlines are resisting attempts by the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ) to adopt the recently launched Gagan ( GPS   Aided Geo Augmented Navigation) system, citing the high cost of associated equipment and the time needed for retrofits, training and certification. One of the world’s four satellite-based augmentation systems, Gagan is a joint project of the Airport Authority of India ( AAI ), the Indian Space Research Organization ( ISRO ) and Raytheon. Its advanced air navigation technology provides coverage for the entire Indian Flight Information Region ( FIR ) via broadcast signals from two Indian built satellites ( GSAT   8 and   GSAT   10). “It improves fuel efficiency of airlines operating throughout India,” said Raytheon’s country...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews July 2, 2013 Press Release ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C22, successfully launched IRNSS-1A, the first satellite in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), in the early morning hours of today (July 2, 2013) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This is the twenty third consecutively successful mission of PSLV. The ‘XL’ configuration of PSLV was used for the mission. Previously, the same configuration of the vehicle was used thrice to launch Chandrayaan-1, GSAT-12 and RISAT-1 satellites. The entire IRNSS constellation of seven satellites is planned to completed by 2015-16. At the completion of the countdown, PSLV-C22 lifted off from the First Launch Pad at 2341 hrs IST yesterday (July 1, 2013) with the ignition of the first stage and four strap-on motors of the launch vehicle.  The important flight events, namely, stage and strap-on ignitions, heat-shield separation, stage and strap-on separations...

PARIS AIR SHOW  »  2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS INSAT-3D being removed from its shipping container. June 18, 2013, 12:15 PM Even as European space consortium Arianespace (Static K400) plans the launch of India’s Insat-3D, the company is looking aggressively to tap business from the Middle East and Asia. Arianespace has launched 65 satellites for Asian operators and has eight Asian satellites in its order book including Jabiru 1, Measat 3B,  NBN  1,  NBN  2, Optus 10 and Gsat-7, a multi-band satellite carrying payloads in  UHF , S-band, C-band and Ku-band to be launched in August. Insat-3D is a meteorological satellite built by India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization, and the launch will take place from Arianespace’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guyana in the second week of July. Designated Flight  VA 214 in Arianespace’s numbering system, the upcoming Insat-3D mission–th...

Neelam Mathews June 1, 2013 IRNSS-1A, the first Indian Navigation Satellite, was scheduled for launch  onboard PSLV-C22 on June 12 at 01:01 hrs. from Satish Dhawan Space  Center, Sriharikota. IRNSS-1A Satellite has gone through all electrical  checks and is ready for propellent filling. The PSLV-C22 vehicle was fully  integrated and was undergoing electrical checks. During the electrical checks of the launch vehicle, an anamoly was   observed in one of the electro-hydraulic control actuators in the second  stage. It has been decided to replace this actuator. The replacement of the control actuator needs two weeks of activity at the  Launch Pad and the Vehicle Assembly Area. Accordingly, the launch of  PSLV-C22/IRNSS-1A is delayed by a fortnight,  says ISRO.

AIN NEWS LIVE FROM AEROINDIA » 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS February 7, 2013, 9:59 AM The certification for India’s  GPS -Aided  GEO  Augmented Navigation (Gagan) project is presently being led by the Director General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ) and, according to an official statement, is “expected to be operational in the summer of 2013.” However, an Airports Authority of India ( AAI ) official, speaking on condition of anonymity, has told  AIN  the schedule is likely to be pushed back toward the end of the year. Raytheon is building the ground stations for the Gagan System, which will provide satellite-based navigation for civil aviation over Indian airspace and adjoining areas in South and East Asia. The Indian Space Research Organization ( ISRO ) and  AAI  are providing the space segment, additional ground equipment, as well as participating in the integration and operating the system. Gagan lever...

Neelam Mathews Oct 6, 2012 Even as India hails its PSLV successes, slipups in its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle [GSLV], have delayed the launch of the Indian Navy satellite GSAT-7 which will now be launched using an Ariane-5 rocket from the Kourou island in French Guiana.  The launch is  tentatively scheduled for the end of this year, or the first month of 2013, Aerospace Diary learns. GSAT-7/INSAT-4F is proposed as a multi-band communication satellite carrying payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band.  On the aerospace command, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne  said:"We need to look at three areas - aerospace, cyber and cooperation.” On the space cell managed by the military, DRDO and ISRO, he noted: “it needs bigger infrastructure…” Delayed by over a year, GSAT-7A will be launched after GSAT-7is launched. “It will be an air force satellite with some bandwidth for the navy,” said Browne. F ormer ISRO chief G. Madhavan Nair had sugge...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Press Release GSAT-10 satellite, ISRO’s 101st space mission, is ready to be launched from the Kourou launch base in French Guyana. GSAT-10, weighing 3400 kg at the lift off, is the heaviest that ISRO has built. GSAT-10 has been integrated with the Ariane-5 launch vehicle along with co-passenger communication satellite ASTRA-2F awaiting the launch scheduled at 0248 hrs on September 29, 2012 (IST). Necessary arrangements are being done for live telecast of the launch from Kourou Launch Base through Doordarshan. About 31 minutes after lift off, GSAT-10 would be injected in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a perigee of 250 km and an apogee of about 36,000 km. From there, the satellite would be moved to Geostationary Orbit (circular 36,000 km above equator) by using the satellite propulsion system in a three step approach. After this, the solar panels and antennas would be deployed. In the next few weeks, the payload would be turned on to perform a series o...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews April 23, 2012 The Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) for Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C19)/Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1) mission, which met on April 21, 2012 at Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota has cleared the launch of PSLV-C19/RISAT-1 mission at 05:47 hrs (IST) on Thursday, April 26, 2012, ISRO says. The 71-hour countdown commenced at 06:47 hours today (April 23, 2012). During the Countdown, propellant-filling operations of the liquid propellant second stage (PS2) and fourth stage (PS4) of the launch vehicle will be carried out. Besides, mandatory checks on the launch vehicle and spacecraft will be carried out. Also, charging of batteries and pressurisation of propellant tanks onboard the satellite will be performed. Readiness of various ground systems such as tracking radar systems and communication networks will also be checked. PSLV-C19 will inject RISAT-1 satellite into an orbit of 480 km altitude at an inclination of...

Posted by Neelam Mathews April 3, 2012 A commercial Launch Services Agreement between Antrix Corporation Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO and ASTRIUM, was signed recently. Under this agreement, an advanced Remote Sensing satellite – SPOT -6 –  weighing nearly 800 kg, built by ASTRIUM, will be launched on-board ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), during the second half of 2012. Along with SPOT – 6 satellite, the PSLV, in its 'core alone' configuration, will also carry other co-passenger payloads. This Launch Services Agreement signed between ANTRIX and ASTRIUM is a part of the Long Term Agreement signed between the two agencies in September 2008. In November 2010, under a commercial contract between ANTRIX and ASTRIUM, an advanced communication satellite HYLAS was successfully built by ISRO and ASTRIUM together for a EUROPEAN customer.

Posted by- Neelam Mathews July 15, 2011 GSAT-12 communication satellite, was today launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. The launch of PSLV - C17 was the eighteenth successive successful flight of PSLV. The preliminary flight data indicates that all major flight events involving stage ignition and burnouts, performance of solid and liquid stages, indigenously developed advanced mission computers and telemetry systems have performed well, says ISRO. ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC)'s ground station at Biak, Indonesia acquired the signals from GSAT-12 immediately after the injection of the satellite. The solar panels of the satellite were deployed automatically. Initial checks on the satellite have indicated normal health of the satellite.

Posted by- Neelam mathews July 10, 2011 Dr VS Hegde, Outstanding Scientist and Scientific Secretary, ISRO is the new Chairman and Managing Director of Antrix Corporation of the Department of Space. Hegde, an expert in remote sensing applications, has over three decades  of experience in ISRO, and has contributed in the areas of Earth  Observation, Disaster Management Support and Societal Development Programs. Hegde holds a Post Graduate degree in Applied Geology from Karnatak University and Doctorate in Environmental Science from Bangalore  University. he was the Scientific Secretary of ISRO.  He is also Vice-President   of the International Astronautical Federation.   V Koteswara Rao, Outstanding Scientist and Director of Laboratory for  Electro Optic Systems (LEOS), a unit of ISRO, has been appointed as the  Scientific Secretary of ISRO. He was the Project Director of Astrosat satellite.

Neelam Mathews May 5, 2011 Time: 9:36 PM IST Arianespace’s third Ariane 5 mission of 2011 has entered the final phase in French Guiana following the heavy-lift launcher’s transfer for the integration of its ST-2 and GSAT-8 dual-passenger payload. The launch is scheduled for May 19. While ISRO’s 15 consecutive successes with its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle ( PSLV), have allowed India to launch Remote Sensing satellites into sun synchronous orbits, the persistent unreliability of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) is raising concerns of delays to the planned second moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, and the future three-stage 629 ton launch vehicle GSLV -Mk III, will be delayed. GSAT-8 uses Indian Space Research Organization’s   I-3K satellite bus with a liftoff mass of 3,100 kg.  Its payload of 24 transponders will augment India’s Ku-band relay capabilities, while the two-channel GAGAN (GPS and GEO augmented navigation) system will support India’...

Press Release by ISRO Filed by Neelam Mathews April 18, 2011 11.50PM IST  The Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) for PSLV-C16/RESOURCESAT-2 mission, which met on April 16, 2011 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre - SHAR, Sriharikota has cleared the launch of PSLV-C16 at 10:12 hrs (IST) on Wednesday, April 20, 2011. LAB reviewed the readiness of the launch vehicle, spacecraft systems and ground stations and has authorised the commencement of the 54 hour Count Down during the early hours of April 18, 2011. During the Count Down, propellant-filling operations of the liquid propellant second stage (PS2) and fourth stage (PS4) of the launch vehicle will be carried out. Mandatory checks on the launch vehicle and spacecraft - including charging of batteries and pressurisation of propellant tanks will be performed. Readiness of launch infrastructure such as tracking radar systems and communication networks will also be checked. PSLV-C16 will launch RESOURCESAT-2, YOUTHSAT and ...

William L. Blair , President of Raytheon India talks to ShowNews’ Neelam Mathews , about the progress of GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN), which Raytheon is developing with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Airports Authority of India (AAI). ShowNews: Do you think that an integrated Air Traffic Management would be a better idea for Indian airports? If so, why? Wm. Blair: The integration of the ATM with the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and GAGAN would be a great benefit to the Indian air traffic management approach. Raytheon has a solution to integrate the GAGAN with ADS-B and present the information to the air-traffic management community to provide a signal with integrity to both the aircraft and the controller. SN: How many reference stations have been completed? WB: All 15 Indian Reference Station (NRES) sites have been finished and Site Acceptance Tests have been successfully completed. The secondary communications circuits an...

Programs Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Feb 21 , 2011 , p. 16 Neelam Mathews NEW DELHI — As India gears up for its first human spaceflight mission in 2017, work is ongoing at the Bengaluru-based Institute of Aerospace Medicine to upgrade facilities and equipment for training astronauts, including simulators and environmental chambers. The institute has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which is outsourcing the training to it. A $124 million human centrifuge has already been purchased, says Giles Gomez, head of the institute. The centrifuge will help aviation physiologists study the effects of g-stresses and will be used to train astronauts in adapting to space. “The selection of astronauts is critical. It takes two years of training,” Gomez says. “The two astronauts will orbit the Earth for a week at between 275 and 400 kilometers from terra firma...