India to attempt four more launches in 2018
The new colonial movement: In outlining the success of yesterday’s GSLV launch, the head of India’s space agency noted that they will attempt to complete four more launches before the end of the year.
Following the missions, Mr Sivan said, in January next, ISRO would launch the Chandrayaan-II mission (lunar lander) which will be the first operational mission of the GSLV-Mk III-vehicle.
Addressing reporters after the successful launch of the second developmental flight GSLV-MkIII-D2 carrying communication satellite GSAT-29, he said, “we have to achieve 10 missions before January.”
“That is six satellite missions as well as four launch vehicle missions. Definitely, the task in front of us is very huge,” he said.
According to him, after Wednesday’s flight, the heaviest launcher of India has completed its development flights and is entering into the operational group of launchers of ISRO, that is along with the PSLV (polar satellite launch vehicle) and GSLV.
Four launches in six weeks would require a launch every week and a half. IF ISRO can do this, they will demonstrate the ability to launch almost weekly, a capability that would place them close to becoming a world power in space.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The new colonial movement: In outlining the success of yesterday’s GSLV launch, the head of India’s space agency noted that they will attempt to complete four more launches before the end of the year.
Following the missions, Mr Sivan said, in January next, ISRO would launch the Chandrayaan-II mission (lunar lander) which will be the first operational mission of the GSLV-Mk III-vehicle.
Addressing reporters after the successful launch of the second developmental flight GSLV-MkIII-D2 carrying communication satellite GSAT-29, he said, “we have to achieve 10 missions before January.”
“That is six satellite missions as well as four launch vehicle missions. Definitely, the task in front of us is very huge,” he said.
According to him, after Wednesday’s flight, the heaviest launcher of India has completed its development flights and is entering into the operational group of launchers of ISRO, that is along with the PSLV (polar satellite launch vehicle) and GSLV.
Four launches in six weeks would require a launch every week and a half. IF ISRO can do this, they will demonstrate the ability to launch almost weekly, a capability that would place them close to becoming a world power in space.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Have we seen any evidence that they can build stages at this rate, or that they have stockpiled sufficient stages?
Seems like an odd cadence change, suddenly. Amazing if they can do it though.
I get what you are saying. Increasing their cadence would show they are a stronger competitor but putting it in a global context, they are a world power in space. Domestic launch capability is nice but the more important thing is what countries do in space. How much longer before we see countries and companies from other countries take advantage of the democratization of access to space?
wodun asked: “How much longer before we see countries and companies from other countries take advantage of the democratization of access to space?”
I believe that it has started. Now we just have to see the pace pick up for new countries getting into the space business.
https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/bulgaria-credits-spacexs-low-costs-for-making-its-satellite-possible/
Many countries have started their own space programs. Many of them now need to do new exploration with those programs in order to encourage their own companies to get into the space business. For example, UAE has also started along that trajectory.
How much does a country’s location affect it’s ability to become a “space power”? The learning curve usually starts with expendables and unless you have open water (or tundra…or don’t care) raining expended first stages on your neighbor doesn’t promote brotherly love.
born01930 asked: “How much does a country’s location affect it’s ability to become a ‘space power’? The learning curve usually starts with expendables and unless you have open water (or tundra…or don’t care) raining expended first stages on your neighbor doesn’t promote brotherly love.”
Luxembourg is working on becoming a space power by attracting space-related companies. Rather than launch from a landlocked location, they are working toward having their space power come from activities in space rather than from providing access to space. Luxembourg’s companies, or I should say that companies who do some amount of business in or from Luxembourg, would use other countries’ launch rockets for access.
This is a different paradigm than we are used to seeing, because up to now it has been the countries with the access (launch sites and launch rockets) that have done the most activities in space. With less expensive access being provided by commercial companies, not only can more countries expand their power into space, but individual companies (or cooperative groups of companies) can do so as well. BulgariaSat-1 is a good example.
With the recent revolution (reversion back?) to smaller, less expensive satellites with limited capabilities, the cost of operating in space also falls, making far more activities affordable than in the past. A country’s location does not matter when it can operate satellites from where it is.
The coming availability of commercial manned launch services should soon open a new market in manned space laboratories. Up to now, all space stations have been owned and operated by nations at great expense. Commercial space labs will necessarily have to find a way to be far less expensive, and competition between space lab companies will necessarily result in ways to be even less expensive, provide more and better services, and generate more scientific or commercial results. Private space labs will also be far more conducive to intellectual property concerns than NASA’s current insistence that data obtained on ISS be made public after five years. In just a few years, any country no matter where it is located can own or lease a space station and operate it as long as a friendly country’s company will provide it with access.