Patha Bhavan old boy part of ISRO's Earth observation satellite project
2
Kolkata: Subhradip Ghosh, a scientist from Kolkata who is currently with the Indian Space Research Organisation (
ISRO
), has played a crucial role in the launch of the GSLV-F16 rocket that was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on July 30.
The former Patha Bhavan student has been part of over 25 ISRO missions, including Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and SPADEX. The son of a retired bank manager, he completed his chemical engineering from Heritage Institute of Technology and then pursued his M.Tech from IIT Guwahati. Although he initially considered going abroad to pursue his research career, he joined ISRO.
The rocket carries on board the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) that will study land and ice deformation, land ecosystems, and oceanic regions in areas of common interest to the US and Indian science communities.
NISAR is currently in the critical 90-day commissioning phase during which scientists will carry out rigorous checks, calibrations, and orbital adjustments to prepare the satellite for full-scale Earth observation.
The satellite aims to measure Earth's changing ecosystems and dynamic surfaces, including melting ice sheets and vegetation changes, providing critical data on biomass, sea-level rise, and natural hazards.
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This satellite can capture clear pictures in the 3 to 10-meter range and send photographs every 12 days after mapping Earth. Ghosh and his team played a vital role in ground system readiness clearance before the rocket was launched.
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Ghosh, who has been in ISRO for six years, was instrumental in overseeing and managing liquid propulsion system of the 52-meter-tall, three-stage rocket. His responsibilities included the precise handling of its hydrazine-based propellant and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer.
The liquid stage, which utilizes solid, liquid, and cryogenic fuels, demanded extreme precision; even the smallest deviation could compromise the mission.
Ensuring accurate propellant insertion and continuous 24x7 monitoring post-insertion were paramount, with no room for error.
"I am really thankful to be a part of this costliest Earth observation satellite. Before this launch, the entire team worked so hard as the satellite will play a vital role in mapping Earth and providing data that can help from agricultural development to prediction for natural calamities and several other major things," said Ghosh, who has encountered both successes and failures during his stint with ISRO.
Chandrayaan-2 in which landerVikram failed to achieve a soft landing on the Moon due to a deviation from its planned trajectory during the descent phase, was his second project. "All these are the learning experiences in my journey as a scientist."
While his contributions were largely behind the scenes, sources within the ISRO launch crew deemed them "indispensable." Ghosh's teachers, friends, and family felt proud of his achievement and the vital role that he is playing as a part of such prestigious projects. Pradip Agarwal, CEO, Heritage Group of Institutions, said, "Our alumnus Subhradip Ghosh, an ISRO scientist, who did his BTech from this institute, played a crucial role in the prestigious NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission.
This achievement will motivate other students as well."
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