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| India-Pakistan |
| India conducts first cryogenic rocket stage test |
| 2006-10-28 |
| BANGALORE: In a major breakthrough in its space programme, India on Saturday successfully conducted the first test of its indigenously developed cryogenic rocket engine at a facility at Mahindragiri in Tamil Nadu. "We had a very successful first cryogenic stage test at Mahindragiri at 6.20 pm. It is a major milestone in the development of rocket systems in the country," Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G Madhavan Nair said. The test at ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Centre at Mahindragiri lasted 50 seconds, he said. "Only developed countries have this stage. We have also qualified now," Nair said. "We will go for one more long duration test in the next three or four days which will make it ready for flight." The cryogenic rocket engine that ISRO successfully tested on Saturday was equivalent to the "Russian stage" supplied earlier, Nair said. |
| Posted by:john |
| #12 Delhi (PTI) Oct 27, 2006 A "registration of intent" to send an Indian astronaut into space on a home-made space capsule using an Indian launch vehicle from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh was made before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on October 17. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G. Madhavan Nair made a brief slide presentation on the possibility of sending an Indian astronaut into space. "The Prime Minister did not say anything adverse. But no decision was taken at that meeting whether to go or not to go," said informed ISRO scientists. "We are yet to go through a presentation to members of the Space Commission or the scientific community. Things will be firmed up in another three to six months." A press release from the Prime Minister's Office on October 18 said: "The Prime Minister reviewed India's space and atomic energy programmes on October 17. Detailed presentations were made by the Chairmen of the Space Commission and the Atomic Energy Commission... The possibility of the Department [of Space] developing a manned space programme was also discussed." A small step towards sending an Indian astronaut into space on an indigenous space capsule will be taken in December 2006/January 2007 when a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from Sriharikota puts in orbit a recoverable satellite weighing around 550 kg. ISRO has named it Space Capsule Recovery Experiment. After the SRE stays in orbit for some days, ISRO scientists will bring it back in a planned manner so that it enters the atmosphere without burning up and touches down in the sea with parachutes and flotation systems. In orbit, the SRE will perform experiments in micro-gravity. The SRE will be an important step towards ISRO mastering the complex re-entry technology. "The re-entry technologyis a must for our manned spacecraft. When the SRE descends from space and re-enters the earth's atmosphere, how we are going to maintain the orientation of the spacecraft is important because we have to exchange speed for heat," said the ISRO scientists. For, when a spacecraft bearing an astronaut re-enters the atmosphere, it will lose speed due to friction from the atmosphere but gain enormous heat. So the capsule should be plastered with composite-tiles to prevent it from burning up when it slices into the atmosphere. The reliability rating has to be very high for a manned space mission. "We are sending a man into space and we have to bring him back safely. So you cannot afford to have any failure. If you lose a satellite, you can build another one. If you lose an astronaut in space, the country's prestige and confidence will be eroded," the scientists said Key ingredients Essential to a manned mission are the re-entry technology; life-support systems; an ejection system in case of an emergency; setting up facilities for training astronauts; creating a corps of astronauts; and building the recovery systems for the space capsule. The proposed manned mission may cost about Rs.20,000 crore. According to ISRO rocket engineers, the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) now available or GSLV-mark III under development will do for the mission. "If the Government gives the go-ahead and all the money needed, we can send an Indian astronaut into space in five to ten years," they said. Source: Press Trust of India |
| Posted by: john 2006-10-28 18:46 |
| #11 The King "... should divide the day as well as the night into eight parts . . . During the fifth, he should hold consultations with the council of ministers through correspondence and also keep himself informed of the secret reports brought by spies.... During the first one-eighth part of the night, he should meet the officers of the secret service.... During the seventh, he should hold consultations and send out the officers of the secret service for their operations." The Duties of a King -- The Arthasastra |
| Posted by: john 2006-10-28 18:34 |
| #10 Proximity matters. The Arthasastra, written by Chanakya, advisor to the Indian Emperor Chandragupta around 4 BC mentions near and far empires: the nearby ones are by definition your enemy, while the distant ones are potential friends. The US is a Far Emperor for India, with the ability to tip the scales against the Near Emperor - China, if an alliance can be reached |
| Posted by: john 2006-10-28 18:29 |
| #9 That astronautix.com link is interesting. The sheer number of launches is quite surprising |
| Posted by: john 2006-10-28 18:22 |
| #8 Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen. While they've tested the motor before, this is the first complete stage test. |
| Posted by: john 2006-10-28 18:20 |
| #7 Cryogenic Rocket Test I was hoping Ted Williams was a pilot again |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-10-28 17:09 |
| #6 Knock on wood, 'Moose. Thanks - I recognize well-considered commentary when I see it, lol. Me 'n Ed Meese are much alike in that regard, lol. I guess I need to set aside the personal stuff for the Big Picture. My bad luck to meet the losers (like me) who opted to work in Saudi, lol. The biggest fish-fry in the History of the World be comming, methinks. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-10-28 16:27 |
| #5 Proximity matters. While the US was always concerned about the Soviet Union and China getting together, their historical animocities always overcame that ambition. Today, the same rule applies with Russia, China and India. With a stroke of genius, W. Bush opened India to America far more than Nixon opened China, and all of a sudden both nations realized that a potent India is to our mutual advantage. It counterbalances China in many ways, and will soon take its proper place as an active, not passive, world power. Ironically, while the US, Russia, China and now India are showing a willingness to engage the world, Europe is rapidly fading in its abilities to do the same, and as such, may soon take a back row to India on the world stage. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-10-28 16:17 |
| #4 I like what I'm hearing, john - and that makes me suspicious of it, lol. Hard to forget the (apparent) rapidity with which they fell into the Soviet orbit... and I had some really bad experiences with Indians in Saudi. I was amazed by the vitriol displayed for the US when the nicities were out of the way. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-10-28 15:39 |
| #3 India has one of the most interesting little space programs you've never heard of. (Japan has the other one.) |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-10-28 15:35 |
| #2 India is being drawn into the American orbit, with economic and military links that will eventually develop into an alliance. NEW DELHI - A new world record has been set in India. On October 19, an auspicious day to purchase new products in the country, mobile-phone maker Nokia reportedly sold more than 400,000 handsets, a number not achieved in a single day anywhere else in the world, |
| Posted by: john 2006-10-28 15:25 |
| #1 Why do I have a feeling that the Indian dog will eventually turn around and bite us? Is it an irrational fear? |
| Posted by: Graith Ulolush9526 2006-10-28 15:07 |