Organisation
The setting up of
Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962
marked the beginning of Indian space programme. In the same year, the
work on Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, (TERLS) near Thiruvananthapuram
was also started. The Indian space programme was institutionalised in
November 1969 with the formation of Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO). The Government of India constituted the Space Commission and
established the Department of Space (DOS) in June 1972 and brought ISRO
under DOS in September 1972.
The Space Commission formulates the policies and oversees the implementation of the Indian space programme to promote the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the country. DOS implements these programmes through, mainly, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), North Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) and Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL). The Antrix Corporation, established in 1992 as a government owned company, markets the space products and services.
The establishment of space systems and their applications are coordinated by the national level committees, namely, INSAT Coordination Committee (ICC), Planning Committee of National Natural Resources Management System (PC-NNRMS) and Advisory Committee on Space Sciences (ADCOS).
The Secretariat
of DOS, Civil Engineering Division and ISRO Headquarters are located
at Antariksh Bhavan in Bangalore. Programme offices at ISRO Headquarters
coordinate the programmes like satellite communication, earth observation,
launch vehicle, space science, space-industry development, disaster
management support, sponsored research scheme, contracts management,
international cooperation, safety, reliability, publications and public
relations, budget and economic analysis and human resources development.
The major establishments of DOS and their major area of activities are
given in the following paragraphs:
Vikram
Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)
VSSC at Thiruvananthapuram is the lead centre for the development of
satellite launch vehicles and associated technologies. The centre pursues
research and development in the fields of aeronautics; avionics; composites;
computer and information; control, guidance and simulation; launch vehicle
design; mechanical engineering; mechanisms, vehicle integration and
testing; propellants, polymers, chemicals and materials; propulsion,
propellants and space ordnance; and systems reliability. Programme planning
and evaluation, technology transfer and industrial coordination, human
resources development, safety and personnel and general administration
groups support the centre.
An Ammonium Perchlorate Experimental Plant (APEP) has been set up by VSSC at Aluva in Kerala.
The Space Physics Laboratory at VSSC carries out research in atmospheric and related space sciences.
The major programmes at VSSC include: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), Rohini Sounding Rocket, Space-capsule Recovery Experiment, Reusable Launch Vehicles and Air Breathing Propulsion.
ISRO
Satellite Centre (ISAC)
ISAC at Bangalore is engaged in developing satellite technology and
implementation of satellite systems for scientific, technological and
application missions. ISAC is functionally organised into five major
areas: mechanical systems area including structures, thermal systems
and spacecraft mechanisms; digital and communications area including
digital systems and communication systems; integration and power area
comprising spacecraft checkout, systems integration and power systems;
controls and mission area consisting of control system, mission development
and computer and information; and facilities. Reliability and components
area comprising indigenisation and components and systems reliability
and programme planning and evaluation group support the centre. Four
project management teams co-ordinate the implementation of projects.
Space astronomy and instrumentation division is engaged in space science
activities. A new facility, ISRO Satellite Integration and Test Establishment
(ISITE) including a Comprehensive Assembly, Test and Thermo-vacuum Chamber
(CATVAC) has been set up and commissioned during the year.
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Spacecraft
assembly area in the newly commissioned ISITE
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ISRO Radar Development Unit (ISRAD) at Bangalore, working under the overall umbrella of ISAC, carries out research and development in the area of radar systems needed for space programme like tracking radars, wind profile radar and weather radars needed for meteorological applications.
Satish
Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR
SDSC SHAR is the main launch centre of ISRO and has facilities for solid
propellant processing, static testing of solid motors, launch vehicle
integration and launch operations, range operations comprising telemetry
tracking and command network and mission control centre. Management
service group, Advanced Engineering Group, reliability and Sriharikota
Common Facilities support the centre.
Liquid
Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)
LPSC is the lead centre in the development of liquid and cryogenic propulsion
for launch vehicles and satellites. The activities are spread across
Thiruvananthapuram, Mahendragiri and Bangalore. LPSC at Thiruvananthapuram
carries out design and system engineering of earth storable and cryogenic
engine and stages for launch vehicles and design and development of
bipropellant thrusters and electric propulsion thrusters for spacecraft,
control components and control systems. LPSC, Mahendragiri carries out
assembly, integration and testing of earth storable and cryogenic engines
and stages, high altitude testing of upper stage engine and spacecraft
thrusters, as well as testing of subsystems. This centre also has facilities
for storage of earth storable and cryogenic propellant including an
Integrated Liquid Hydorgen Plant. LPSC at Bangalore carries out design,
development and testing of propulsion systems for spacecraft, spacecraft
propellant plant, etc. It also carries out transducer design and development.
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L-110
stage facility for GSLV-Mk III at LPSC Mahendragiri
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Space
Applications Centre (SAC)
SAC at Ahmedabad is engaged in the development of payloads for communication,
meteorological and remote sensing satellites. SAC also carries out research
and development on various space applications programme. The activities
are grouped under microwave systems, satellite communication applications,
sensor developments, image and information processing and remote sensing
applications. Programme planning group, systems reliability group and
library and documentation group support the centre. SAC also operates
Delhi Earth Station (DES) for satellite communication.
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Development
and Educational Communication Unit (DECU)
DECU at Ahmedabad is involved in the conception, definition, planning,
implementation and socio-economic evaluation of innovative configuration
for space applications. The major activities of DECU at present include:
EDUSAT pilot projects, implementation and utilisation; GRAMSAT programme
including pilot projects in different States and Training and Development
Communication Channel (TDCC), Village Resource Centres (VRC), tele-medicine,
science channel and new satellite communication development and applications.
ISRO
Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC)
ISTRAC provides mission support to low-earth orbit satellites as well
as launch vehicle missions. ISTRAC has its headquarters and a multi-mission
Spacecraft Control Centre at Bangalore. It has a network of ground stations
at Bangalore, Lucknow, Sriharikota, Port Blair and Thiruvananthapuram
in India besides stations at Mauritius, Bearslake (Russia), Brunei and
Biak (Indonesia). ISTRAC activities are organised into network operations,
network augmentation, mission operation and spacecraft health monitoring,
communications and computers and control centre facilities and development
projects. Programme planning and reliability groups support ISTRAC activities.
ISTRAC also operates the Local User Terminal/Mission Control Centre
(LUT/MCC) under the international programme for satellite-aided search
and rescue. An Indian Deep Space Tracking Network station at Bangalore
for India’s mission to moon, Chandrayaan-1, is being established
by ISTRAC.
Master
Control Facility (MCF)
MCF at Hassan in Karnataka and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh monitors and
controls all the geo-stationary satellites of ISRO. MCF carries out
operations related to initial orbit raising of satellites, in-orbit
payload testing, and on-orbit operations throughout the life of these
satellites. The operations involve continuous tracking, telemetry and
commanding, special operations like eclipse management, station-keeping
manoeuvres and recovery in case of contingencies. MCF interacts with
the user agencies for effective utilisation of the satellite payloads
and to minimise the service disturbances during special operations.
ISRO
Inertial Systems Unit (IISU)
IISU at Thiruvananthapuram carries out research and development in inertial
sensors and systems and allied satellite elements. IISU is organised
into research and development in the areas of launch vehicle inertial
systems, spacecraft inertial systems, inertial system production and
reliability and quality assurance. It has facilities for precision fabrication,
assembly, clean room and integration and testing.
Laboratory
for Electro-Optic Systems (LEOS)
LEOS at Bangalore carries out research and development in the field
of electro-optic sensors and cameras required for satellites and launch
vehicles.
National
Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA)
NRSA at Hyderabad is an autonomous institution under DOS. The agency
is responsible for satellite data acquisition and processing, data dissemination,
aerial remote sensing and decision support for disaster management.
NRSA has set up data reception station at Shadnagar near Hyderabad for
acquiring data from Indian remote sensing satellites as well as others.
The agency is also engaged in executing remote sensing application projects
in collaboration with the users. Indian Institute of Remote Sensing
at Dehra Dun, which conducts training courses in remote sensing for
user agency personnel at different levels, functions under NRSA.
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Physical
Research Laboratory (PRL)
PRL at Ahmedabad, is an autonomous institution supported mainly by DOS.
It is a premier institute engaged in basic research in experimental
and theoretical physics, astronomy and astrophysics, and earth, planetary
and atmospheric sciences. The activities cover a wide spectrum of competitive
research in all these areas. PRL is also involved in conducting extensive
academic programmes for Doctoral and Post Doctoral research and also
has an Associateship programme for university teachers. It is also entrusted
with the management of the Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO).
National
Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL)
NARL at Gadanki near Tirupati is an autonomous society supported by
DOS. It is a centre for atmospheric research with facilities like mesosphere-stratosphere-troposphere
radar, LIDAR, lower atmospheric wind profiler, disdrometer, optical
rain gauge and automatic weather station along with associated facilities.
NARL is available for national and international scientists to conduct
atmospheric research.
Regional
Remote Sensing Service Centres (RRSSC)
Five RRSSCs have been established by DOS at Bangalore, Jodhpur, Kharagpur,
Dehradun and Nagpur. RRSSCs support the various remote sensing tasks
specific to their regions as well as at the national level. RRSSCs participate
actively in areas like disaster management, software development, agro-climatic
planning, national drinking water mission, national resources census,
large scale mapping, etc, besides taking up projects for various ministries
and departments.
North
Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC)
NE-SAC, located at Shillong, is a joint initiative of DOS and North
Eastern Council to provide support to the North Eastern region in using
space science and technology for development. The centre has the mandate
to develop high technology infrastructure support to enable NE states
to adopt space technology inputs for their development. At present,
NE-SAC is providing developmental support by undertaking specific projects,
utilising space technology inputs – remote sensing, satellite communication
and space science.
Antrix
Corporation Limited
The Antrix Corporation Limited, Bangalore is the marketing agency under
DOS with access to resources of DOS as well as Indian space industries.
Antrix markets subsystems and components for satellites, undertakes
contracts for building satellites to user specifications, provides launch
services and tracking facilities and organises training of manpower
and software development.
Semi-Conductor
Laboratory (SCL)
Semi-Conductor Complex Limited, Chandigarh, a public sector undertaking
under Department
of Information Technology (DIT) came under the administrative control
of Department of Space in March 2005. DOS has undertaken re-structuring
of SCL into a research and development society. The society, named Semi-Conductor
Laboratory was registered in November, 2005. SCL is entrusted with design
and development of Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) devices and development
of systems for telecommunication and space sectors. SCL has facilities
for fabrication of micro-electronic devices in 0.8 micron range and
Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS). Actions to upgrade the facilities
to fabricate advanced devices in 0.35 micron range have been initiated.
