Cryogenic upper stage engine in GSLV

Bangalore, Aug 19: The indigenous upper stage of Cryogenic engine, successfully tested at Mahendragiri facility of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) last week, will be used in the GSLV to be launched next year. Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of a book release function here last night, ISRO Chairman N Madhavan Nair said he was completely satisfied with the successful eight minute test of the upper stage of Cryogenic engine and added there was no need for further tests. It would be fitted on the 160 foot GSLV which would be launched early next year.

The ISRO's attempts to launch GSLV that could carry four tonnes of payload, had been hampered due to sanctions imposed on the transfer of technology of the Cryogenic engine by the US, after its second nuclear test. However, ISRO had worked steadfastly since then to achieve self sufficiency in this field, he said.

The engine had run for 6,000 seconds against the required 720 seconds in the flight. However, there was no need to go for another test as all the parameters achieved so far had been satisfactory and the results were pleasing, he said.

Mr Nair said ISRO was set to launch its 'Chandrayan mission' next year that would orbit the moon. ''By next year we will be able to send a satellite that orbit the moon. The deep space tracking network near Magadi in Bangalore rural district will be ready by the year-end. With the help of the private and public sector industries, we have succeeded in erecting an engineering marvel, which includes a giant antenna with sophisticated control system designed by the joint team. The system engineering is done by ISRO. The entire system will be ready for use by the year end, much ahead of the 'Moon Mission','' he said.

On ISRO's ambitious 'Manned Mission', Mr Nair said first an Indian astronaut would be sent in a space vehicle that would orbit the earth, by 2015. The technology needed was quite demanding. ''We have to work ourselves and develop technology providing a working condition for human beings and above all manage the mission in absolutely safe manner,'' he said.

ISRO hoped to submit a project report to the Centre in one year's time after the ongoing study.

From here ISRO would work towards achieving the Moon Mission, which would be another long journey. ''Going to the moon and coming back safely is a Herculean task. But we cannot lag behind Developed nations which have lined up several space missions,'' he said.

Mr Nair said SAARC countries including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had evinced keen interest in implementing telemedicine using ISRO satellites in their countries for the people in the remote areas. Asked about the proposed telemedicine project in Afghanisthan, he said ''unfortunately we could not implement the project in Afghanistan due to various security reasons. We couldn't move the equipment. As and when the situation becomes clear there, we will be able to do it,'' he said.

On the critical mass as to what ISRO had achieved in taking the development in space technology to the common people, Mr Nair said telemedicine technology using satellite technology had reached lakhs of people through 240 hospitals including hi-tech ones where highly acclaimed specialists would advise doctors in remote places on the treatment of serious ailments through video conference.

As many as 15,000 schools had been reached through ISRO's Edusat programme where students in remote places were taught by experts, using satellite technology.

Two hundred pilot projects had been launched throughout the country and it would be more than doubled during this year, in the second phase.

''We have spoken to Union Rural Development Department in this regard and we are happy to cross the pilot project stage. It will take two to three years to implement it on the national level,'' he said.

To a question Mr Nair agreed that corporate world should come forward in helping ISRO take up itsproject to benefit the common people under Corporate Social Responsibility.

UNI