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ISRO facilities

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There are several Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facilities all over India. ISRO headquarters in Bangalore provides overall direction for the organization. There are more than twenty facilities which support ISRO.

Facilities

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ISRO has lots of different technical centres and facilities, which supports and enable it to work smoothly on a day to day basis. Such facilities are listed below under different sections.

Research facilities

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Vikram sarabhai space centre
Further information: Vikram Sarabhai Space Center

The largest ISRO base which is located in Thiruvananthapuram, is also the main technical centre and the venue for development of the SLV-3, ASLV, and PSLV series.[1] The base supports TERLS and the Rohini Sounding Rocket programme.[1] It is also developing the GSLV series.[1]

Liquid propulsion systems centre
Further information: Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre

The LPSC which is located in both Thiruvananthapuram and Bangalore, handles design, development, testing and implementation of liquid propulsion control packages, liquid stages and liquid engines for launch vehicles and satellites.[1] The testing of these systems is largely conducted at IPRC at Mahendragiri.[1] The LPSC, Bengaluru also produces precision transducers.[2]

Physical research laboratory
Further information: Physical Research Laboratory

PRL which is located in Ahmedabad, conducts research in Solar planetary physics, Infrared astronomy, Geo-cosmo physics, Plasma physics, astrophysics, archaeology, and hydrology. It also operates the observatory at Udaipur.[1]

National atmospheric research Laboratory
Further information: National Atmospheric Research Laboratory

The NARL located in Tirupati, carries out fundamental and applied research in atmospheric and space sciences.[3]

Space applications centre
Further information: Space Applications Centre

The SAC located in Ahmedabad, deals with the various aspects of the practical use of space technology.[1] Among the fields of research at the SAC are geodesy, satellite based telecommunications, surveying, remote sensing, meteorology, environment monitoring etc.[1] The SAC also operates the Delhi Earth Station, which is located in Delhi and is used for demonstration of various SATCOM experiments in addition to normal SATCOM operations.[4]

North-eastern space applications centre
Further information: North-Eastern Space Applications Centre

This facility located in Meghalaya, provides developmental support to North East by undertaking specific application projects using remote sensing, GIS, Satellite Communication and conducting space science research.[5]

Test facilities

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ISRO propulsion complex
Further information: ISRO Propulsion Complex

The facility which is located in Mahendragiri was formerly called LPSC-Mahendragiri and was declared a separate centre. It handles testing and assembly of liquid propulsion control packages, liquid engines, and stages for launch vehicles and satellites.[1]

Construction and launch facilities

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U R Rao satellite centre
Further information: U R Rao Satellite Centre

The venue of eight successful spacecraft projects located in Bangalore, is also one of the main satellite technology bases of ISRO. The facility serves as a venue for implementing indigenous spacecraft in India.[1] The satellites Aryabhata, Bhaskara, APPLE, and IRS-1A were built at this site, and the IRS and INSAT satellite series are presently under development here. This centre was formerly known as ISRO Satellite Centre.[2]

Laboratory for electro-optics systems
Further information: Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems

This is the Unit of ISRO which responsible for the development of altitude sensors for all satellites and is located in Bangalore. The high precision optics for all cameras and payloads in all ISRO satellites are developed at this laboratory, located at Peenya Industrial Estate, Bengaluru.

Satish dhawan space centre
Further information: Satish Dhawan Space Centre

With multiple sub-sites the Sriharikota island facility acts as a launching site for India's satellites.[1] The Sriharikota facility is also the main launch base for India's sounding rockets.[2] The centre is also home to India's largest Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant (SPROB) and houses the Static Test and Evaluation Complex (STEX).[2] The Second Vehicle Assembly Building (SVAB) at Sriharikota is being realised as an additional integration facility, with suitable interfacing to a second launch pad.[6][7]

Thumba equatorial rocket launching station
Further information: Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station

TERLS which is located in Thiruvananthapuram, is used to launch sounding rockets.[8]

Tracking and control facilities

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Indian deep space network
Further information: Indian Deep Space Network

IDSN network which is located in Bangalore, receives, processes, archives and distributes the spacecraft health data and payload data in real-time. It can track and monitor satellites up to very large distances, even beyond the Moon.[9]

National remote sensing centre
Further information: National Remote Sensing Centre

The NRSC which is headquartered in Hyderabad, applies remote sensing to manage natural resources and study aerial surveying.[1] With centres at Balanagar and Shadnagar it also has training facilities at Dehradun acting as the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing.[1]

ISRO telemetry, tracking and command network
Further information: ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network

This facility's headquarters is located in Bangalore and it also has a number of ground stations throughout India and the world.[4] Software development, Ground Operations, Tracking Telemetry and Command (TTC), and support is provided by this institution.[1] ISTRAC has Tracking stations throughout the country and all over the world in Port Louis (Mauritius), Bearslake (Russia), Biak (Indonesia) and Brunei.[10]

Master control facility
Further information: Master Control Facility

MCF which is located in both Hassan and Bhopal, is mainly used for geostationary satellite orbit raising, payload testing, and in-orbit operations are performed at this facility.[11] The MCF has Earth stations and the Satellite Control Centre (SCC) for controlling satellites.[11] A second MCF-like facility named 'MCF-B' is being constructed at Bhopal.[11]

Space situational awareness control centre

This facility which is located in Peenya and Bangalore, has a network of telescopes and radars are being set up under the Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management to monitor space debris and to safeguard space-based assets. The new facility will end ISRO's dependence on NORAD. The sophisticated multi-object tracking radar installed in Nellore, a radar in Northeast India and telescopes in Thiruvananthapuram, Mount Abu and North India will be part of this network.[12][13]

Directorate of space situational awareness and management

To reduce dependency on North America Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) for space situational awareness and protect the civilian and military assets, ISRO is setting up telescopes and radars in four locations to cover each direction. Leh, Mount Abu and Ponmudi were selected to station the telescopes and radars that will cover North, West and South of Indian territory. The last one will be in Northeast India to cover the entire eastern region. Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota already supports Multi-Object Tracking Radar (MOTR).[14] All the telescopes and radars will come under Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management (DSSAM) in Bengaluru. It will collect tracking data on inactive satellites and will also perform research on active debris removal, space debris modelling and mitigation.[15]

For early warning, ISRO began a ₹400 crore (4 billion; US$53 million) project called Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis (NETRA). It will help the country track atmospheric entry, intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), anti-satellite weapon and other space-based attacks. All the radars and telescopes will be connected through NETRA. The system will support remote and scheduled operations. NETRA will follow the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IASDCC) and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOSA) guidelines. The objective of NETRA is to track objects at a distance of 36,000 kilometres (22,000 mi) in GTO.[16][17]

India signed a memorandum of understanding on the Space Situational Awareness Data Sharing Pact with the US in April 2022.[18][19] It will enable Department of Space to collaborate with the Combined Space Operation Center (CSpOC) to protect the space-based assets of both nations from natural and human-made threats.[20] On 11 July 2022, ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM) at Space Situational Awareness Control Centre, in Peenya was inaugurated by Jitender Singh. It will help provide information on on-orbit collision, fragmentation, atmospheric re-entry risk, space-based strategic information, hazardous asteroids, and space weather forecast. IS4OM will safeguard all the operational space assets, identify and monitor other operational spacecraft with close approaches which have overpasses over Indian subcontinent and those which conduct intentional manoeuvres with suspicious motives or seek re-entry within South Asia.[21]

ISRO system for safe and sustainable space operations management

On 7 March 2023, IS4OM conducted successful controlled re-entry of decommissioned satellite Megha-Tropiques after firing four on-board 11 Newton thrusters for 20 minutes each. A series of 20 manoeuvres were performed since August 2022 by spending 120 kg fuel. The final telemetry data confirmed disintegtration over Pacific Ocean. It was part of a compliance effort following international guidelines on space debris mitigation.[22]

Human resource development

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Indian institute of remote sensing
Further information: Indian Institute of Remote Sensing

The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) which is located in Dehradun, is a premier training and educational institute set up for developing trained professionals (P.G. and PhD level) in the field of remote sensing, geoinformatics and GPS technology for natural resources, environmental and disaster management. IIRS is also executing many R&D projects on remote sensing and GIS for societal applications. IIRS also runs various outreach programmes (Live & Interactive and e-learning) to build trained skilled human resources in the field of remote sensing and geospatial technologies.[23]

Indian institute of space science and technology
Further information: Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology

The institute which is located in Thiruvananthapuram, offers undergraduate and graduate courses in Aerospace Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering (Avionics), and Engineering Physics. The students of the first three batches of IIST were inducted into different ISRO centres.[24]

Development and educational communication unit
Further information: Development and Educational Communication Unit

The centre located in Ahmedabad, works for education, research, and training, mainly in conjunction with the INSAT programme.[1] The main activities carried out at DECU include GRAMSAT and EDUSAT projects.[2] The Training and Development Communication Channel (TDCC) also falls under the operational control of the DECU.[4]

Space technology incubation centres

The S-TICs opened at premier technical universities in India to promote startups to build applications and products in tandem with the industry and would be used for future space missions. The S-TIC will bring the industry, academia and ISRO under one umbrella to contribute towards research and development (R&D) initiatives relevant to the Indian Space Programme.[25]

These Centers are located at the following Places:[26]

Space innovation centre

In line with its ongoing effort to promote R&D in space technology through industry as well as academia, ISRO in collaboration with Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, has set up Veer Surendra Sai Space Innovation Centre (VSSSIC) within its campus at Sambalpur. The objective of its Space Innovation Research Lab is to promote and encourage the students in research and development in the area of space science and technology at VSSUT and other institutes within this region.

Space Innovation Centres are located in the following Places:[27]

Regional academy centre for space

All these centres are set up in tier-2 cities to create awareness, strengthen academic collaboration and act as incubators for space technology, space science and space applications. The activities of RAC-S will maximise the use of research potential, infrastructure, expertise, experience and facilitate capacity building.

Regional Academy centre for Space are located in the following places:[28]

Advance space research group

Like NASA funded Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) managed by California Institute of Technology (Caltech), ISRO with Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) implemented a joint working framework in 2021 in which an Empowered Overseeing Committee (EOC) under Capacity Building Programme Office (CBPO) of ISRO located in Bengaluru will approve all short, medium and long term space research projects of common interest. In return, an Advance Space Research Group (ASRG) formed at IIST under the guidance of EOC will have full access to ISRO facilities. The primary aim is to transform IIST into a premier space research and engineering institute by 2028–2030 that can lead future space exploration missions of ISRO.[29][30]

Commercial and marketing facilities

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These facilities come under the administrative control of Department of Space(DOS) and are used to promote and market ISRO's products and services.

Antrix corporation limited
Further information: Antrix Corporation

Set up as the marketing arm of ISRO, Antrix's job is to promote products, services and technology developed by ISRO.[31][32]

NewSpace india limited
Further information: NewSpace India Limited

Set up for marketing spin-off technologies, tech transfers through industry interface and scale up industry participation in the space programmes.[33]

Other facilities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Ojha, pp. 142.
  2. ^ a b c d e Suri & Rajaram, pp. 414.
  3. ^ "About Us". National Atmospheric Research Laboratory. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Suri & Rajaram, pp. 415.
  5. ^ "About NESAC". North-Eastern Space Applications Centre. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Second Vehicle Assembly Building being realised at ISRO". The Economic Times. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  7. ^ Madumathi, D.S. (6 January 2016). "Sriharikota space port scores 50". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Sounding Rockets". ISRO. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) - Gateway to India's Space Science Data". ISRO. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  10. ^ "SRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC)". ISRO. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Suri & Rajaram, pp. 416.
  12. ^ Singh, Surendra (5 August 2019). "New Isro system to shield its assets from space debris". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  13. ^ Kumar, Chethan (4 August 2019). "Isro keen on protecting space assets; new centre soon". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  14. ^ Pathri, Rajasekhar (16 May 2015). "Isro's tracking radar to start work". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  15. ^ "ISRO chairman lays foundation stone for Space Situational Awareness Control Centre in Bengaluru". ANI. IANS. 3 August 2019. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  16. ^ Singh, Surendra (5 August 2019). "New Isro system to shield its assets from space debris". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  17. ^ D.S, Madhumathi (24 September 2019). "ISRO initiates 'Project NETRA' to safeguard Indian space assets from debris and other harm". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  18. ^ "India, United States to sign space MoU during 2+2 meeting in Washington". Business Standard. IANS. 11 April 2022. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Readout of U.S. - India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  20. ^ Roy Chaudhury, Dipanjan (30 September 2021). "India, US to conclude MoU to safeguard satellites from natural, man-made threats". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  21. ^ "ISRO launches new system for space observation and debris management". The Hindu. 2022-07-11. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  22. ^ Kumar, Chethan (2023-03-07). "Isro successfully completes controlled re-entry of decommissioned satellite Megha-Tropiques". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  23. ^ "Institute Profile". Indian Institute of Remote Sensing. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Institute IIST". Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  25. ^ "Isro opens space tech incubation centre at NIT-T". The Times of India. 30 May 2019. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  26. ^ "Space Technology Incubation Centers [S-TIC]". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  27. ^ "Space Innovation Centre". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  28. ^ "[RAC-S]". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  29. ^ "Advanced Space Research Group (ASRG)". Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  30. ^ "ISRO embarking on replicating NASA partnership model in India". The Hindu. PTI. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Antrix responsible for marketing ISRO tech". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  32. ^ "ISRO's commercial arm Antrix gets new chief". The Hindu. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  33. ^ "ISRO's NewSpace India Limited takes off in Bengaluru". Deccan Herald. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.

Sources

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  • Ojha, N.N. "India in Space ", Science & Technology. New Delhi: Chronicle Books. pp. 110–143.
  • Suri, R.K.; Rajaram, Kalpana. "Space Research", Science and Technology in India. New Delhi: Spectrum. pp. 411–448. ISBN 81-7930-294-6.
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