Pradeep's Space Newsletter #50
PSLV C-55/TeLEOS-2 Mission, RLV-TD extended cut, and transparent RTI Replies
PSLV C-55/TeLEOS-2 Mission
April 22 could see the launch of the Singapore’s TeLEOS-2 satellite on-board a PSLV.
This mission has not been announced on the official ISRO webpage. But, members of the r/ISRO sub-Reddit have been following it by looking at NOTAMs (Notice to Air Mission) and local press coverage (post on the first article, post on the second article).
TeLEOS-2 is a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite with a resolution of 1 m. The satellite uses the same satellite bus (satellite structure) as the TeLEOS-1 launched by PSLV-C29 mission in 2015.
The PSLV flies in its PSLV Core Alone (PSLV-CA) configuration for this mission, like it did for the C29 mission. In this configuration, the PSLV flies without the strap-on motors attached to its first stage.
The launch is from the First Launch Pad. As u/Ohsin says in the post on the first article:
PIF being used for first time marks transformation of FLP from Integrate on Pad (IOP) to Integrate, Transfer and Launch (ITL) approach. ISRO should have published such updates on this campaign.
I agree.
The PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) was inaugurated by Chairman, Dr. S Somanath on February 10, 2023. The PSLV first and second stages were assembled in the PIF. It was then moved to the launch pad on April 5, 2023 with the mobile launch pad. Third and fourth stages were assembled on the launch pad. The payload fairing was delivered on April 10, 2023. The satellite was sent to the launch pad on April 11, 2023.
Union Cabinet gives nod to Indian Space Policy 2023
The Hindu reports that the Cabinet approved Indian Space Policy, 2023. What this is, is unknown since this has not been released on the public domain. The policy defines the roles and responsibilities of the various parts of the Department of Space.
Longer video of the RLV-TD landing experiment
ISRO has posted a longer version of the video of the prototype Reusable Launch Vehicle Technical Demonstrator (RLV-TD) on its website. The video shares more details of the lift-off on the Chinook helicopter, its release from the helicopter, its approach and landing. Watch the video here.
Jatan Mehta writes for Payload and has a very important correction on the RLV-TD:
What India's spaceplane isn't: Media outlets have frequently compared the RLV to NASA’s retired Space Shuttle. But ISRO is neither designing the RLV to carry humans to space nor is it intended to be a heavy-lift launch vehicle. As an autonomous platform, the RLV will be much more akin to the Boeing X-37B and Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser.
ISRO RTI replies
u/cybertron42 on the ISRO sub-Reddit, r/ISRO shared pictures of the response received from ISRO on the queries filed using the Right to Information Act. I am happy to see the questions are getting answered now.
You can read the post here.
Indian Space Progress
Jatan has started a monthly news update newsletter. If the weekly (and the inconsistent) rate of my newsletter is a bother, I can definitely suggest subscribing to his newsletter.
