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India as Space Faring Nation
Context:
India has set ambitious goals for its space program over the next two decades, with a focus on developing reusable rockets like the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).
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- To achieve strategic autonomy in space access, India must not only rely on ISRO but also engage its private sector in creating advanced space transportation systems.
Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)
It is an ambitious project by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aimed at enhancing India’s capabilities in space transportation.
Key Features:
- Payload Capacity: The NGLV is designed to carry a maximum payload of 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), significantly increasing India’s current capability, which is up to 10 tonnes with existing vehicles like PSLV and GSLV.
- Reusability: One of the standout features of the NGLV is its reusable first stage, which aims to lower launch costs and improve access to space by allowing components to be recovered and reused.
- Cost Efficiency: The NGLV is projected to have a cost that is 1.5 times that of the LVM3, while offering three times the current payload capability, making it a more economical option for launching heavier payloads.
- Modular Green Propulsion: The vehicle will incorporate modular green propulsion systems, utilising semi-cryogenic engines that enhance performance while being environmentally friendly.
ISRO’s Road Map to the Stars
- Since its inception in the 1960s, India’s space program has evolved into a formidable force.
- Preparations for the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send an Indian crew to space for the first time, are already underway.
- By the end of the next decade, India plans to establish its own space station in Earth’s orbit and expand human spaceflight capabilities to the moon.
- Realising these goals requires mastering human-centric technologies, conducting multiple uncrewed lunar missions, and developing powerful rockets capable of carrying heavier payloads.
- ISRO’s upcoming NGLV, recently approved by the Union Cabinet, is central to this vision.
- Designed for heavy lift capacity and reusability, the NGLV will significantly enhance mission capabilities while reducing costs.
- By tripling the payload capacity of the LVM3, India’s most powerful rocket, the NGLV will open new possibilities for space exploration and development.
- Unlike India’s existing expendable rockets, the NGLV’s reusable design will save costs over multiple flights, although it requires retaining some fuel for controlled descent.
The Immediate Need for Heavy Lift Capability
- The NGLV’s development timeline spans the next eight years, but the need for heavy lift capability is urgent.
- For example, India’s next uncrewed moon mission will require two LVM3 rockets to carry and assemble the necessary modules in space.
- Similarly, ISRO had to rely on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to launch the GSAT-N2 satellite due to its weight exceeding LVM3’s maximum capacity.
- SpaceX’s advancements highlight the gap India must bridge.
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- The Falcon 9, with its reusable design, can carry up to 5,500 kg to the Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), far exceeding LVM3’s 4,000 kg capacity.
- SpaceX’s Starship, capable of lifting over 21,000 kg to GTO, demonstrates the potential of cutting-edge heavy-lift reusable rockets, a benchmark India must strive toward.
Harnessing the Private Sector
- To meet its space ambitions, India needs a robust ecosystem that combines ISRO’s expertise with private sector innovation.
- The Department of Space could contract private companies to design and develop reusable heavy-lift rockets.
- With appropriate incentives and milestone-based funding mechanisms, Indian firms can overcome initial technological gaps, leveraging foreign collaboration where necessary.
- Such initiatives would ensure accountability, reduce costs, and foster innovation.
- Even if private projects face delays, the resulting infrastructure and technical advancements will contribute to India’s long-term space capabilities.
A Sustainable Space Ecosystem
- India’s space ambitions, from utilising satellite data for development to establishing a presence on the moon and Mars, depend on a reliable supply of advanced space transportation services.
- By fostering collaboration between ISRO and private industry, India can build a specialised industrial base capable of meeting its diverse needs in outer space.
