Chapter 4- Space Programmes: Spin-offs for Humanity

Though the Indian space program started nearly 20 years later than in developed countries, today it has emerged as one among six nations i.e. USA, Russia, Europa, China and Japan having total indigenous capability in building satellites for earth observation communication and scientific research as well as launch them into orbits around Earth and even taken them to Moon or Mars. Indian launch vehicles like PSLV, GSLV have proven track record and cost-effectiveness such that even developed countries are approaching ISRO for launching their satellites.

What should be the focus for future space programmes?

Important developments related to the human space flight are the Crew module, life support system, Crew escape system and improvement in the overall reliability of the launch vehicle.
Once in orbit, the capsule will be in almost zero G condition and hard vacuum and will be subjected to heavy radiation.
Creating living conditions inside the module, to support human life, providing oxygen, water and food as well as water and food as well as waste disposal for several days needs developments of innovative technologies.
Training of astronauts to face zero Gas as well as high acceleration levels during launch and re-entry needs through understanding of behavior of human physiology and psychology as well as conditioning the astronauts by going through a series of simulated environmental tests.
A branch medicine i.e. space medicine will emerge. Such facilities are not available in the country and need to be established through fresh development programmes.
Satellite images and for continuous monitoring of sensitive regions high resolution imaging from geo stationary platform will have to be developed. Innovative solutions are to be found to combine optical and micro wave images from such platform from 36000 km is required.

Reliable Vehicles:

The PSLV and GSLV have emerged as reliable satellite launch vehicles globally. That is the reason that other countries including USA, Europe and Canada are approaching ISRO for launching their satellites.

Demonstrated reliability of these launchers are around 95 per cent but not adequate to carry the manned capsule.
Space Shuttle had estimated reliability level of 99 per cent, still NASA took the risk of sending astronauts in that. It is sad that they encountered two failures out of its 136 launches.
At present the only launcher available for the free world for human space flight is Russian Soyuz rocket.

GSLV MKIII:

Though the GSLV MKIII recently developed by ISRO can take the manned capsule weighing nearly 10 tones to low earth orbit, improvement of reliability of the launch system is a must before it carries human on board.
The entire design and test results will have to be revisited.
Providing oxygen and maintaining the temperature within reasonable limits, shielding the external radiation of charged particles and providing waste management onboard are other new developments

Recovery System:

While all attempts will be made to have a reliable launch system there is a remote chance there could be some chance of failure. In such a case how to bring back the astronaut has to be addressed.

Recently, ISRO has demonstrated a crew recovery experiment using which astronauts will be ejected from the launch system and brought back to earth in case of the mission abort.
Developing space transportation system and enabling humans to stay in earth orbit for few days and bringing them back is only a small step forward, it will provide a platform for detailed observation of planet earth, scientific observation and studies of stars and galaxies.
Conducting chemical or biological experiments under zero G condition to generate new molecules are some of the benefits.

Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite:

The recently launched hyper spectral imaging satellite is going to be a powerful tool for monitoring natural resources and supporting agriculture in a big way. Warnings on cyclone drought weather phenomena can be met using precision multi spectral images from geo stationary satellites. But there is no proven technique for advanced warning of earthquakes.

Digital Connectivity:

Today’s knowledge society is totally dependent on digital connectivity. Geo stationary satellites always provided solutions for this.

The recent launch of GSAT11 is a clear example of how space is supporting the needs of the country in this area of high speed digital connectivity.
Such resources will have to be multiplied.
Through this, digital connectivity is assured not only to remote rural areas but also the doorstep of the poor.
While access to knowledge is extended so are the services like health care through telemedicine.

Way forward:

Today, space based service are efficient but expensive. The cost of launching satellites contributes a major share in this. If schemes are developed to recover and reuse the launch hardware considerable saving in cost can be achieved. Also, use of new propulsion systems using less expensive fuel like kerosene could bring down costs.

TID-BITS:

Online Portal Facilitate DBT Launched:

An online portal “ENSURE” National Livestock Mission-EDEG developed by NABARD and operated under the Department of ‘Animal Husbandry, Dairying, & Fisheries was launched recently.
The National Livestock Mission has been conceived by the government for the sustainable development of the livestock sector.
Under the Mission’s component called Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation (EDEG), subsidy payment for activities related to poultry, small ruminants, pigs etc. through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) goes directly to the beneficiary’s account.
In order to make it better, simpler and transparent, the NABARD has developed an online portal “ENSURE” so that the information related to beneficiary and processing of application can be made readily available.

India’s Heaviest Communication Satellite GSAT-11 Launched:

Indian Space Research Organization’s heaviest and most-advanced high throughput communication satellite GSAT-11 was successfully launched from the Spaceport in French Guiana on the early hours of 5th December 2018.

The 5,854-kg GSAT-11 will provide high data rate connectivity to users of Indian mainland and islands through 32 user beams in ka- band.
“GSAT-11 will boost the broadband connectivity to rural and inaccessible Gram Panchayats in the country coming under the Bharat Net Project, which is part of Digital India Programme,” – ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan.
The Bharat Net Project aims to enhance the public welfare schemes like e-banking, e-health and e-governance among others.

NANO MISSION:

The Nano Mission is an umbrella programme of Government of India for overall development in the field of Nano technology through studies, research and innovations.

Nanotechnology deals with variety of applications in, medical, space, telecommunications, food processing and environmental protection.
Acknowledging its vast potential, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched a programme called Nano Science and Technology Initiative (NIST) in 2001. The Nano Mission is successor of this programme.
The Government approved Nano Mission in 2007 with an initial allocation of Rs 1000/- crore.
The Nano Mission has been structured in a fashion so as to achieve synergy between the national research efforts of various agencies in Nano Science and Technology and launch new programmes in a concerted fashion. International collaborative research efforts will also be made wherever required.
Today, India has emerged 6th worldwide in terms of scientific publications. An active research community of about 1000 researchers has emerged. Besides, some interesting applications have already come out of the country.

Objectives of the NANO-Mission:

Basic Research Promotion — funding of basic research by individual scientists or groups of scientists and creation of centres of excellence for pursuing and research.
Infrastructure Development for Nano Science and Technology Research — For optimal use of expensive and sophisticated facilities, it is proposed to establish a chain of shared facilities across the country.
Nano Applications and Technology Development Programmes – The Mission proposes to promote application-oriented Research and Development (R&D) Projects, establish Nano Applications and Technology Development Centres, Nano-Technology Business Incubators etc. Special effort will be made to involve the industrial sector into nanotechnology R&D directly or through Public Private Partnership (PPP) ventures.
Human Resource Development — The Mission shall focus on providing effective education and training to researchers and professionals in diversified fields. It is planned to launch M.Sc./ M Tech Programmes, create national and overseas post-doctoral fellowships, chairs in universities, etc.
International Collaborations — Apart from exploratory visits of scientists, organization of joint workshops and conferences and joint research projects, it is also planned to facilitate access to sophisticated research facilities abroad, establish joint centres of excellence and forge academia-industry partnerships at the international level wherever required and desirable)

The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal agency for implementing the Nano Mission. At the apex level, it is steered by a Nano Mission Council (NMC). The technical programmes of the Nano Mission are also being guided by two advisory groups, viz. the Nano Science Advisory Group (NSAG) and the Nano Applications and Technology Advisory Group (NATAG).

Establishment of Centres of Excellence

Eleven Units/Core Groups on Nano Science have been sanctioned across the country. These centres of excellence house some of the more sophisticated facilities for sharing with other scientists in the region and would help in promoting scientific research. Seven Centres for Nano Technology focusing on the development of specific applications have also been established. In addition, a centre of excellence on Computational Materials Science has also been established at JNCASR, Bangalore.

International Collaborative Programmes

Nano Science and Technology has prominently figured in all S&T cooperation agreements entered into in recent times. Joint R&D activities are already taking place with several countries.

For example,

With the US, several projects have been funded on CNTs in composites, nano-encapsulating materials, etc. under the DST-NSF programme. Several Indo-US Workshops have also been held.
With Germany, a programme on engineered functional nanocomposites has started which would focus on magnetic properties, magnetic interactions. Gas-solid interactions including catalysis, etc.
Programmes are also on with Italy, EU and developing with Taiwan.
ARCI, Hyderabad, which is an autonomous institute of DST has active programme in nanomaterials with institutions in Russia, Ukraine, Japan, Germany and USA)