This will help India’s space agency send heavier satellites into space, become market leaders
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will work on launching vehicles with 'electric propulsion system' so that heavier satellites can be sent into space by the agency, its Chairman AS Kiran Kumar said on Monday.
"Till today, we had the capability to launch 2.2 tonne satellites and in today's GSLV-MKIII D1 launch, we successfully used electric propulsion system," he told reporters here after the launch of the GSLV MkIII.
"We have a six-tonne satellite in principle. It is possible to be realised using electric propulsion. So we have already started using electric propulsion system. (Even) GSAT-19 (launched today) carries an electric propulsion system. So, we have successfully tested that," he said.
"In future also, we will have many more electric propulsion systems coming up. Once we become self-reliant in four tonne we will configure our communication satellite to realise them. That is the plan," he said.
When asked whether ISRO would launch satellites from Ariane, French Guiana, he said event for the next satellite GSAT18 scheduled for June 28 weighing about 3.3 tonne and another satellite weighing 5.8 tonne, ISRO would utilise French Guiana facility.
"For the next launch which is on June 28, we are actually getting it done from Ariane. It is a GSAT18 which is about 3.3 tonnes but after that we also have 5.8-tonne satellite for which also, we will be going to French Guiana," he said
To a query on the immediate task for ISRO, he said, "Our immediate task is to improve the launch vehicles of PSLV, at least two launches of GSLV Mark II per year and one more Mark-III within a year. these are all immediate plans."
Asked on when the GSAT19 would reach the intended orbit, Kumar said, "Right now what is achieved is geostationary transfer orbit. That means, it is about perigee of 170 kms and apogee of 39,500 km. What we will do is a series of manoeuvre using the propulsion of the satellite. Typically, it takes two weeks to three weeks."
On the status of inter-planetary mission, Kumar said the space agency had two approved missions, 'Aditya' and 'Chandrayaan II'.
"The launch of 'Chandrayaan II' will be in the first quarter of next year and with regard to 'Aditya' we are planning to launch it some time in 2018-'19," he said.
To a query as to whether the market size of ISRO increased with Monday's heavy satellite launch, Kumar said "definitely with every successful launch credibility of the system goes up. Customers will have greater confidence".
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