The Hindu : National : Next space capsule recovery test in two years

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Sunday, Apr 29, 2007
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Next space capsule recovery test in two years

Staff Reporter

``We have planned three launches this year including 2 PSLVs and one GSLV''

B. N. Suresh

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India would be conducting another round of Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE) in two years to consolidate its position among a select group of countries which have capabilities not only to launch a satellite into a specified space orbit but also to recover it undamaged after the completion of its mission.

This was disclosed at a news conference here on Saturday by the Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), B.N. Suresh, after inaugurating the maiden public exhibition of the first Indian SRE module which was successfully recovered from the Bay of Bengal on January 22 after its 12 days of sojourn in the outer space.

"We have already obtained sanction for the next SRE. We are waiting for a `co-passenger' in the launch. In the maiden launch also we had a `co-passenger'."

"We have planned three launches this year and they include two Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs) and one Geo-Stationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The GSLV launch has been scheduled for August and the PSLV schedules are being finalised. We will be busy with these three launches this year. We will take up the next SRE after those launches," Dr Suresh said.

Replying to questions, he said the SRE II would be a repeat design of the SRE I with some minor changes based on `lessons we had learnt from the first experiment.'

He said the successful completion of SRE I had given sufficient confidence to the Indian scientists in the development of technologies needed for re-entry and recovery of an orbiting module.

"We did not have any data with us on vital issues like the recovery of a module from the space orbit, its navigation, velocity control and temperature regulation and other related issues. We had to make several assumptions. But everything went off as per our calculations. Barring some minor changes even the surface of the capsule was intact. The electronic systems inside it were working perfectly well."

This was a significant milestone in the development of reusable launch vehicles and satellites.

Answering a query, he however said the modules in the SREs would not be reused as they were meant for experiments.

Project Director of the SRE, A. Subramanian, and several other senior scientists were present at the Press conference.

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