Manoj Ambat's Blog dealing with Defence, Foreign Affairs, Strategic Affairs and Politics

GSLV Mark-3 ( Image credits- ISRO) Indian space program is making huge strides in International stage. But still, it is only the tip of the ice berg. India can achieve more. The Diplomat in an in depth article looks at the issue in detail ( The article can be read here .....)

GSLV Mark-3 (Image credits- Wikimedia Commons/ISRO) Congratulations to Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) for the successful launch of GSLV Mark-3 (D-1) in it's maiden voyage. You have made the nation proud.  A little insight into  what GSLV  Mark-3 is all about and why this launch is so important for India: The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III is a launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).  It is intended to launch satellites into geostationary orbit and as a launcher for an Indian crew vehicle. The GSLV-III features an Indian cryogenic third stage and a higher payload capacity than the current GSLV Mark-1 and 2.  Development for the GSLV-III began in the early 2000s, with the first launch planned for 2009-2010.Several factors have delayed the program, including the 15 April 2010 failure of the ISRO-developed cryogenic upper stage on the GSLV Mk II. A suborbital flight test of the GSLV-III launcher, w

Image credits- ISRO Source- Russia & India Report Author-  Yuri Karash , Vzglyad A couple of decades ago, the assumption that India was capable of claiming a part of the launch services market would have appeared too bold. Launch services had been securely divided between the US, Russia and Europe. At that time, India was only "learning" to fly into space, building sub-orbital vehicles, and light-class carriers that could deliver a few dozen kilograms of load to a low Earth orbit. The technology is not for everyone The situation changed in the early 1990s. India then developed and commissioned the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), a middle class launch vehicle, which has performed 35 test flights to date, of which all but one have been successful and one has been partly successful., making the PSLV’s reliability rating almost 95%, placing it on par with the best Russian, US and European carriers. The most major achievement of the Indian spa

ISRO's MOM ( Source- Wikimedia Commons / Author- Nesnad) Source- The Dipomat Author- John Johnson Freese The world rightfully applauded when India’s Mangalyaan spacecraft began orbiting Mars in September 2014. After all, new entries were being logged in the record books: India became the first Asian country to reach Mars, the first country to orbit Mars on its first attempt, and only the fourth country to orbit Mars, with such space heavy-hitters as the United States, the Soviet Union and Europe. But who pays attention to record books any longer when it comes to space anyway? Everyone. The benefits for India to be seen as a space power range from regional and geostrategic influence vis-à-vis China, to raising the credibility of sophisticated space technology produced by Anthrix, the commercial arm of India’s Space Research Organization, credibility accompanied by potentially substantial economic returns. Additionally, India achieved its success reaching Mars i

GSLV- Mark II ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons/ ISRO) Source- The Diplomat Author- Sudha Ramachandran India recently made history, when its Mars Orbiter Mission successfully entered the Martian orbit. In doing so, it became the first country to enter Mars’ orbit on its first attempt and also the first Asian country to reach the red planet. Missions to Mars have rarely been successful. Before India’s Mangalyaan (Sanskrit for Mars-craft), only the United States, the Soviet Union, and Europe had entered Mars orbit. India is part of an elite club. What makes India’s Mars mission all the more remarkable is its low cost. With a price tag of just $70 million, it is the least expensive inter-planetary mission ever. The U.S. Maven orbiter, which arrived at Mars two days before Mangalyaan, cost NASA a whopping $671 million in comparison. Experts have pointed out that the enormous cost difference between Mangalyaan and Maven is because the Indian Mars-craft is far simp

Indian GSLV Launcher ( Image credits-Wikimedia Commons /ISRO/Author) India has been working in cooperation with 33 countries in the area of peaceful use of outer space, the government today said. India is pursuing cooperation with other countries on peaceful uses of outer space. Currently, cooperative arrangements are signed with 33 countries including Russia, United Kingdom, United States of America, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Republic of Korea and Saudi Arabia, said Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Department of Space in a written response in Lok Sabha. The countries also include Syria, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Norway, Peru, The Netherlands, Ukraine, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile and Venezuela. He said that the areas of cooperation include Remote Sensing of Earth, Satellite Communication, Launch Services, Telemetry and Tracking Support, Space Explo

ISRO GSLV launcher ( Image credits- Wikimedia commons/ISRO) On June 30, India celebrated  another successful launch  of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the workhorse of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). This time, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in attendance. His  SHAR speech  emphasized the role of technology in aiding development and referenced the humble beginnings of the ISRO. Among the many points he made, two were geopolitically significant. First, he observed that the satellite being launched, SPOT 7, belonged to a developed nation: France. Second, he challenged the ISRO to develop a satellite that would serve the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation nations. Those thoughts  coincide  with two of the three major foreign policy issues that confront India, as noted by Shivsankar Menon: its relations with major powers and its need for a peaceful and prosperous neighborhood. Major Power Relations: France Cooperation with France

Pic courtesy- Wikimedia and ISRO Today India and ISRO stepped into the annals of great space faring nations, a select group of 5 nations which has the capability to successfully launch satellites into the Geo Stationary Orbit using indigenous launchers with the successful launch of GSLV-D5 ferrying GSAT-14 communication satellite. This is even more remarkable because this feet was achieved using the indigenous cryogenic engine. This monumental achievement puts India firmly in the trajectory of rapid development and expansion of our space program which has grown in proposition over the years from launching small sounding rockets from TERLS, Thumba to being able to launch heavy duty rockets. India now has a well developed space program that rivals the best in the world. Many people has been asking for years as to why does India need such a mammoth space program? The answer is not far to find. Over the years with the advancement of space sciences in India, ISRO has developed a h

http://defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.asp?get=new&id=2791

http://defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.asp?get=new&id=2796

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Isros-Mars-Orbiter-Mission-successfully-placed-in-Mars-transfer-trajectory/articleshow/26656881.cms

Congrats to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for launching the Mangalyan (Mars probe) successfully. Followed every movement of the launch and felt proud to be born to this great country. Very best to one and all who are involved in the project. Vande Mathram  —