Pradeep's Space Newsletter #42

First commercial success for LVM3, Solar eclipses and on India's space priorities.

When an LVM3 Flies, What Does It Mean for India?

I wrote this piece for The Wire Science. It was published on October 30, 2022. In the article, I argue that while the LVM3 has proven reliability, it needs to sort out production issues and needs more support from the government.

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ISRO Updates

LVM3 M2 / OneWeb India-1 Mission

The GSLVMk-III/LVM3 successfully placed the first batch of 36 satellites in orbit for OneWeb on October 23, 2022.

CE20 Cryogenic Engine for the next mission of LVM3 tested for acceptance.

The cryogenic engine used in the third stage of the GSLV Mk-III/LVM3 was tested at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC), Mahendragiri. This engine is for the second commercial launch of the LVM3 that will carry the second batch of 36 satellites for OneWeb.

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Indian Space Tweets

Spaceflight Now @SpaceflightNow

ISRO confirms separation of the first eight of 36 OneWeb internet satellites from the GSLV Mk.3 rocket's upper stage in orbit. The remaining satellites will deploy four at a time over the next hour or so. spaceflightnow.com/2022/10/22/gsl…

I enjoyed seeing the animation of the satellite deployment that ISRO showed on the live stream. This is from the LVM3 M2 mission for OneWeb.

Skyroot Aerospace @SkyrootA

Just like how rockets add fun and excitement for Diwali, we aspire to make rockets to space become a greater part of our everyday lives. Happy Diwali. #HappyDiwali #SkyrootAerospace #OpeningSpaceForAll

Sidharth.M.P @sdhrthmp

#ISRO Chairman Dr.S.Somanath tells me: 5 launches in 5 months PSLV BhutanSat-OceanSat Nov SSLV repeat GSLV Mk2 NavIC Next-gen GSLV Mk3 @OneWeb Jan/Feb PSLV Aditya L1 Mar He adds - LVM3 has market potential, talks underway with industry, NSIL will industrialize it sooner @isro

Tushar Goyal @3dash1dot

Today's Partial #SolarEclipse, as seen over River Ganga in Haridwar, India! What a surreal, serene moment to witness. ☀️🌙

Sushan Konar @Sushan_Konar

"No need to be so hyper about the routine hide-and-seek of this middle aged yellow star in our backyard. I can hear the music of the Universe from across unimaginable depths of space and time. " - GMRT 😁

Yashwant Gupta @yash_gupta_62

https://t.co/DO7VKO8Z1M

The Hindu @the_hindu

The Indian Space Research Organisation (#ISRO) is working on a series of improvements to the NavIC, or India’s equivalent of the Global Positioning System (GPS), so that more people are motivated to install it and use it. @neutranino reports

trib.alISRO to boost NavIC, widen user base of location systemISRO chief says plans afoot to give it a global reach and increase the number of satellites; to add bandwidth most used for civilian navigational use and strengthen the safety of signals

Radifah Kabir @Astro_Radifah

#Space startups, space parks and satellite manufacturing services will play a major role in boosting the Indian space economy, which is projected to grow to $12.8466 billion by 2025. #IndiaAt2047 #India Know more here: news.abplive.com/india-at-2047/…

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News Updates

• Times of India - As GSLV-Mk3 goes commercial, work on semi-cryo picks up pace

• Times of India - TN gets set for a lift-off

• Business Today - ISRO chief calls on India Inc. to partner with it on reusable rocket programme

• NDTV - ISRO Plans Gaganyaan Mission's 1st Test Flight In February 2023: Report

• Moon Monday #100 - Chandrayaan 3 slowed down by one web of perplexing priorities

• Moon Monday #101 - ISRO really did delay Chandrayaan 3 for OneWeb

• The Stellina #17 - End of India’s Mars mission