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India Today
11 hours ago
- Science
- India Today
Nisar mission: Once a denier of cryogenic tech, Nasa is now an Isro customer
On July 30, 2025, the Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) satellite is set to lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota aboard India's GSLV rocket, powered by an indigenous cryogenic is the world's single most expensive civilian Earth imaging satellite. A collaboration between Nasa and Isro, the mission represents a major technological achievement and an even more significant geopolitical three decades ago, the United States actively blocked India's access to cryogenic engine technology. Sanctions were imposed, diplomatic pressure was applied, and international agreements were disrupted, all to keep India out of the elite club of space-faring nations. A LOOK BACK INTO PAST It began in the early 1990s, a time when India's space programme was steadily gaining ground. By then, Isro had developed the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), a dependable rocket that could carry satellites weighing up to 1,750 kilograms into low Earth orbit (LEO) at altitudes of around 600–800 it had a crucial limitation: it could not lift heavier payloads into geostationary orbit (GEO), located about 36,000 kilometres above the Earth's surface. This is the orbit where most communication, weather, and broadcasting satellites reach that altitude with payloads typically weighing 2,000 to 2,500 kilograms or more, India needed a more powerful rocket and, more importantly, a more advanced needed a cryogenic engine. Nisar satellite. (Photo: Nasa) But cryogenic engines are extremely complex. Liquid hydrogen, the main fuel, must be stored at –253C, and liquid oxygen at –183C. Keeping these volatile substances stable inside a rocket, and then igniting them, demands precision ultra-low temperatures can cause metal components to crack, valves to seize, and seals to fail. Most importantly, the entire system must function flawlessly under immense pressure and temperature during launch.A LIKELY DEPENDENCYIn the early 1990s, India did not possess this technology. Without it, India remained dependent on foreign rockets for critical space missions. To gain full independence in space, Isro had two options: develop the technology in-house or acquire it from abroad. Given the complexity and urgency, India first sought to acquire the time, only a handful of countries, the United States, Russia, France, and Japan, had cryogenic was approached first, but negotiations failed to progress. Offers came from the United States and Europe. General Dynamics, an American firm, proposed a deal, as did Europe's Arianespace. The cryogenic engine developed by Isro. (Photo: Isro) However, both offers were expensive and included restrictive clauses that ruled out any transfer of technology. For India, which saw technology transfer as vital for long-term self-reliance, these deals offered little came a breakthrough. In January 1991, Isro signed a historic agreement with Russia's Glavkosmos to procure two cryogenic engines along with full technology transfer, for a relatively modest $200 million. The engines on offer, the RD-56 or KVD-1, had originally been developed for the Soviet manned moon that opportunity soon came under FOLLOWEDAs the Cold War ended and Russia turned toward the West for economic support, the United States began exerting diplomatic pressure. Under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the United States claimed the engine transfer could aid missile development. In 1992, it imposed sanctions on both Isro and Glavkosmos, effectively blocking the its place came a heavily revised arrangement. It allowed the delivery of seven fully assembled engines, but with no accompanying blueprints, training, or transfer of technology. Adding to the humiliation, the agreement included a clause restricting India from using the engines only for peaceful purposes and prohibited any modification or re-export without Russian irony was hard to ignore: this was the same technology the United States had earlier offered India, without objections, and at a much higher imported engines powered the early flights of the GSLV programme. But even as India used them, then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao recognised the strategic vulnerability of relying on foreign technology. In April 1994, the government launched an indigenous cryogenic engine development programme with an initial budget of 300 crore. The decision would lay the foundation for India's future self-reliance in heavy-lift the formal restrictions, cooperation between Russian and Indian scientists did not completely end. Many within Glavkosmos had developed deep respect for Isro engineers and discreetly supported their components and technical inputs were quietly sent to India, sometimes through covert means. Ural Airlines, a Russian carrier, agreed to transport equipment discreetly in exchange for extra compensation. Many sources state that Nambi Narayanan, who headed Isro's cryogenic programme at the time, later confirmed that he personally accompanied some of these these backchannel efforts were India pushed ahead with its indigenous programme, the United States appeared to shift tactics—from diplomatic pressure to disruption. In late 1994, Nambi Narayanan and his colleague Sasi Kumaran were suddenly arrested on false charges of espionage. They were accused of leaking confidential cryogenic engine data to Pakistan through two Maldivian women, whom Nambi Narayanan had never case shocked the scientific community and the Narayanan was subjected to brutal interrogation and intense media scrutiny. The cryogenic project came to a standstill. Eventually, the case was handed over to the CBI, which found no evidence of wrongdoing. Nambi was acquitted, and years later, on September 14, 2018, the Supreme Court acknowledged the injustice he had scars of the espionage case did not stop AND STEADYProgress was slow and often marked by failure. Multiple test flights of the GSLV in the early 2000s faced setbacks. Engines underperformed, missions failed mid-flight, and questions were raised about whether India had taken on more than it could handle. And western media was in full glee at our breakthrough came on January 5, 2014, when Isro successfully launched the GSLV-D5 mission using a 100% indigenous cryogenic marked a turning point, not just for Isro, but for India's standing in the global space community. Since then, India has routinely used the GSLV for placing heavy satellites in orbit and has become a trusted launch partner for other same cryogenic engine that the world once refused to share has now become a symbol of India's resilience. And in a fitting turn of history, it is now all set to carry an American satellite into space. The deniers are now our customers.(This is an authored article by Srijan Pal Singh. He is an author and an IIM Ahmedabad graduate, who was the Advisor for Policy and Technology to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, 11th President of India.)- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
"Inspiring visionary": PM Modi pays homage to former President APJ Abdul Kalam on 10th death anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to former President APJ Abdul Kalam , popularly known as the "Missile Man" on his 10th death anniversary on Sunday. In a post on social media X, the Prime Minister wrote that Kalam was remembered as an "inspiring visionary", an outstanding scientist, mentor and a great patriot. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Finance Degree MCA Design Thinking Leadership Digital Marketing Cybersecurity Healthcare Data Science PGDM Others Public Policy healthcare Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Technology CXO Project Management Operations Management Data Science others Product Management MBA Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta SEPO - IIMC CFO India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Fintech & Blockchain India Starts on undefined Get Details The thoughts of "Missile Man" motivated the youth of India to contribute towards building a developed and strong country, the Prime Minister said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Car Novels Undo "On his death anniversary, we pay homage to our beloved former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He is remembered as an inspiring visionary, an outstanding scientist, a mentor and a great patriot. His dedication to our nation was exemplary. His thoughts motivate the youth of India to contribute towards building a developed and strong India," PM Modi's post read. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (1931-2015), widely known as the " Missile Man of India ," was an eminent scientist and the 11th President of India (2002-2007). Born on October 15, 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, into a humble family, Kalam rose through sheer hard work and determination. Live Events Kalam made a significant contribution as Project Director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), which successfully injected the Rohini satellite into near-earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of the Space Club. He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO 's launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration. He was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through the networking of multiple institutions. Beyond his scientific contributions, Kalam was deeply passionate about inspiring the youth of India. He authored several influential books such as " Wings of Fire ," "Ignited Minds," and " India 2020 ," all centred around dreaming big and building a stronger nation. Kalam passed away on July 27, 2015.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Nisar mission to benefit global community in earth observation: Isro chief
Nisar mission TIRUCHIRAPALLI: The Nisar mission , jointly developed by Isro and the national aeronautics and space administration ( Nasa ), would significantly benefit the global community in earth observation , Isro chairman V Narayanan said here on Saturday. The GSLV-F16/Nisar Mission is the result of over a decade of robust technical cooperation between the two teams of Isro and Nasa-jet propulsion laboratory, US. According to Isro , the mission in itself has got a lot of firsts -- it is the first mission to carry dual-band radar satellite, a GSLV rocket will carry a satellite to be placed in Sunsynchronous Orbit (unlike PSLV rockets) and it is the first Isro-Nasa Earth Observation Mission. Nisar, which is short for Nasa-Isro synthetic aperture radar (Nisar), would help scientists comprehensively monitor Earth's land and ice surfaces, building a detailed record of large and small changes over time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jakarta: Unsold Sofas May Be at Bargain Prices (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo The mission would also be crucial in helping the scientific community to gain a better understanding of the processes involved during natural calamities like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides. As per the collaboration between Isro and Nasa, the rocket would carry a unique earth observation satellite with a dual-frequency radar provided by Nasa's L-Band and Isro's S-Band. The Radar would use Nasa's 12 metre mesh reflector antenna that has been integrated into ISRO's I3K satellite bus. Speaking to reporters here, Narayanan said, "Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) satellite launch will be done using our GSLV-MkII vehicle ( GSLV-F16 ). The payloads are jointly realised by Isro and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA. This satellite is going to be useful for the global community in earth observation and disaster mitigation areas." "The Mission is also a very, very important as Isro would be making the 102nd launch from Indian soil that is targeted on July 30, 5.40 pm (from Sriharikota)", Narayanan also the secretary, department of space, said. Weighing 2,392 kg, the satellite would observe the earth with a swath of 242 km and high spatial resolution, using SweepSAR technology for the first time, Isro said. The satellite would scan the entire globe and provide all weather, day and night data at 12-day interval and enable a wide range of applications. The radar can detect even small changes in the Earth's surface such as ground deformation, ice-sheet movement and vegetation dynamics. Some of the other applications are ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm characterisation, changes in soil moisture, mapping and monitoring of surface water resources and disaster response, the space agency said. Nisar would provide scientific information about the Earth's processes and it would study key changes in Earth's land and ice. The mission would also be more powerful than previous Synthetic Aperture Radar missions as it will monitor parts of Earth which are not previously covered.
News18
3 days ago
- Science
- News18
NISAR mission to benefit global community in earth observation: ISRO chief
Tiruchirappalli, Jul 27 (PTI) The NISAR mission, jointly developed by ISRO and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), would significantly benefit the global community in earth observation, ISRO chairman V Narayanan said here on Saturday. The GSLV-F16/NISAR Mission is the result of over a decade of robust technical cooperation between the two teams of ISRO and NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, US. According to ISRO, the mission in itself has got a lot of firsts — it is the first mission to carry dual-band radar satellite, a GSLV rocket will carry a satellite to be placed in Sunsynchronous Orbit (unlike PSLV rockets) and it is the first ISRO-NASA Earth Observation Mission. NISAR, which is short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), would help scientists comprehensively monitor Earth's land and ice surfaces, building a detailed record of large and small changes over time. The mission would also be crucial in helping the scientific community to gain a better understanding of the processes involved during natural calamities like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides. As per the collaboration between ISRO and NASA, the rocket would carry a unique earth observation satellite with a dual-frequency radar provided by NASA's L-Band and ISRO's S-Band. The Radar would use NASA's 12 metre mesh reflector antenna that has been integrated into ISRO's I3K satellite bus. Speaking to reporters here, Narayanan said, 'NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite launch will be done using our GSLV-MkII vehicle (GSLV-F16). The payloads are jointly realised by ISRO and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA. This satellite is going to be useful for the global community in earth observation and disaster mitigation areas." 'The Mission is also a very, very important as ISRO would be making the 102nd launch from Indian soil that is targeted on July 30, 5.40 pm (from Sriharikota)", Narayanan also the Secretary, Department of Space, said. Weighing 2,392 kg, the satellite would observe the earth with a swath of 242 km and high spatial resolution, using SweepSAR technology for the first time, ISRO said. The satellite would scan the entire globe and provide all weather, day and night data at 12-day interval and enable a wide range of applications. The radar can detect even small changes in the Earth's surface such as ground deformation, ice-sheet movement and vegetation dynamics. Some of the other applications are ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm characterisation, changes in soil moisture, mapping and monitoring of surface water resources and disaster response, the space agency said. NISAR would provide scientific information about the Earth's processes and it would study key changes in Earth's land and ice. The mission would also be more powerful than previous Synthetic Aperture Radar missions as it will monitor parts of Earth which are not previously covered. PTI VIJ VIJ ROH view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 19:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
SSLV acquisition strategic, we'll look at redesign in future: HAL
BENGALURU: Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd 's (HAL) winning Rs 511 crore bid for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) wasn't just about cost — it was a strategic move to own design capabilities and begin charting an independent path in India's launch vehicle ecosystem. The bid, which was significantly higher than competing offers in the Rs 250–310 crore range, was deliberate, HAL CMD DK Sunil told TOI in an interview. 'Our internal estimates were close to what we quoted — slightly lower, but in that range. This is a long-term play. We didn't want to just manufacture. We wanted to understand the rocket, build a cadre, and eventually modify the design ourselves,' he added. Unlike HAL's earlier collaborations with L&T on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the SSLV project marks a shift. It's a full transfer of technology (ToT) agreement, with HAL taking sole responsibility — not just for manufacturing, but also for absorbing the design and systems architecture. The formal agreement with Space PSU NewSpace India Ltd (Nsil) is expected to be signed by the end of July, after which HAL will begin building two SSLV prototypes. Sunil sees this as a beginning. 'The idea is to take baby steps. We want to understand avionics, structures, rocket parts, the entire stack. It's not about redesigning in two or three years. But ten years down the line, yes, I would be very happy if HAL builds a rocket from scratch.' The move comes as demand for launch vehicles catering to low-Earth orbit (LEO) small satellite constellations rises — both in the commercial and strategic sectors. HAL's interest in SSLV is not just about assembling hardware, but about developing a future-facing business vertical in rocketry. The immediate focus is on learning and integration, but the eventual goal is autonomy in design and adaptability to different mission profiles. Meanwhile, HAL-L&T work on the PSLV is expected to achieve a milestone later this year. The first rocket built entirely by industry is expected to launch around Oct-Nov 2025. The contract is purely for fabrication, using Isro's design and established supply chain. Even so, it has seen initial delays. 'There were some issues with sourcing materials, and the external environment has contributed to some slowdown,' Sunil admitted. 'But integration is under way. These are still early days, but we're now in better shape,' he added. Despite the differences in scope, HAL's engagement with both PSLV and SSLV signals a broader repositioning of the aerospace PSU — from being a supplier of structures to becoming a deeper stakeholder in space systems. The SSLV project, in particular, marks the beginning of HAL's ambition to design, adapt, and one day build rockets of its own. 'It's a journey,' said Sunil. 'Like how we built our aircraft capability over decades. We are starting that journey now for space.'
