Indian Defense
Why Return of Chandrayaan-3’s Propulsion Module To Earth Orbit Is A Milestone For ISRO
![Why Return of Chandrayaan-3’s Propulsion Module To Earth Orbit Is A Milestone For ISRO Why Return of Chandrayaan-3’s Propulsion Module To Earth Orbit Is A Milestone For ISRO](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQukqPKkZzLHxEoBgYKcV6xui4AmZSz1vH5CsoCGPwbXJMaNgXjYV4WU3-_0gMijmPBN9GPHAI-0lF5qyLLgGLQVsPYsstro029IFfrzcF7ryJpxVCBZMX6Cj2H7TgBm-KEF7KDAf0CFjSo7VfYI5SSiJglL7xawwrOjFz0wQtICgWzFVOarShqFDMCiA/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Chandrayaan-4_Mission_SHAPE.jpg)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a unique milestone when it relocated the Propulsion Module (PM) of Chandrayaan-3 from a lunar orbit to an orbit around the earth, after it achieved its mission objectives, demonstrating the technology and capability to return from the lunar surface. This is the first time that any country has retrieved a spacecraft from the moon and brought it back to earth orbit.
“This remarkable feat involved meticulously orchestrated manoeuvres – an orbit-raising manoeuvre and a Trans-Earth injection manoeuvre – strategically placing the PM in an earth-bound orbit inclined at 27 degrees,” said Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, which is into design, fabrication and launch of small satellites, spacecraft and ground systems.
“Throughout its trajectory, the perigee and apogee altitudes have exhibited variability, with a predicted minimum perigee altitude of 1.15 lakh kilometres. Encouragingly, the current orbit prediction assures no imminent threats of close approach with operational earth-orbiting satellites. This mission plan was worked out considering the collision avoidance such as preventing the PM from crashing on to the moon’s surface or entering into the earth’s GEO belt at 36,000km and orbits below that,” Kesan said.
This space expert further pointed out that the unprecedented return of the Chandrayaan-3 PM to earth’s orbit holds pivotal implications for future missions. The noteworthy outcomes include the meticulous planning and execution of trajectories and manoeuvre for the return from the moon to earth, accompanied by the development and preliminary validation of a software module specifically designed for such a manoeuvre. Moreover, these manoeuvres have paved the way for planning and executing gravity-assisted flybys across planets and celestial bodies, further expanding the repertoire of space exploration methodologies.
“Crucially, these manoeuvres have successfully steered clear of the uncontrolled crashing of the PM on to the moon’s surface at the end of its operational life,” said Kesan. “This crucial aspect aligns with the stringent requirement of avoiding debris creation, underscoring the meticulous planning and execution strategies inherent in ISRO’s space missions. The successful return of the Chandrayaan-3 PM to earth’s orbit heralds a new chapter in India’s space exploration narrative, marked by technological prowess, meticulous planning, and groundbreaking achievements. This milestone not only amplifies India’s presence in the global space community but also paves the way for innovative advancements in future space missions.”
The PM had carried the lander and the rover from the launch injection to the lunar orbit. It entered the lunar orbit on August 5, and released the lander on August 20. The lander touched down near the lunar south pole at 6.03pm on August 23, making India the fourth country to successfully land on the moon and the first nation to do so in the lunar south polar region.
The PM performed four lunar flybys between October 13 and November 10 using its thrusters to alter its orbit. The PM came as close as 100km (62 miles) to the lunar surface during these flybys and captured high-resolution images of the landing site and other regions of interest. The PM also carried a scientific payload called Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE), which measured the polarisation of the sunlight reflected by earth. SHAPE is a scientific instrument on Chandrayaan-3 that helped scientists understand the habitability of earth and other exoplanets by analysing atmospheric and surface characteristics. By studying the polarisation of sunlight, SHAPE provides insights into the atmosphere’s composition, cloud presence and other factors important for habitability. This data is vital for assessing the habitability of exoplanets and improving our knowledge of earth’s environment. SHAPE’s observations contributed to Chandrayaan-3’s goals and advance our understanding of habitability conditions on earth and beyond.
“The original plan was to use this payload for approximately three months while the PM mission was ongoing,” said space expert Girish Linganna. “However, due to the precise orbit injection by LVM3 and efficient earth and lunar burn manoeuvres, the PM ended up having more than 100kg of fuel left even after conducting operations in lunar orbit for more than a month. The team decided to make use of the remaining fuel in the PM to gather more data for upcoming lunar missions and showcase the operational strategies for a sample return mission. They also decided to reposition the PM to a suitable earth orbit so that the SHAPE payload could continue observing earth.”
ISRO stated that they carefully considered both the estimated fuel availability and the safety of the GEO spacecraft. They subsequently designed an optimal earth return trajectory for October 2023.
“The PM underwent manoeuvres to adjust its orbit, transitioned from the moon’s influence and is currently in an earth orbit with specific characteristics, ensuring safety regarding potential collisions with other satellites,” Linganna said. “Additionally, the return manoeuvres conducted on Chandrayaan-3’s PM are manifold for future missions such as plotting and performing the path and manoeuvres needed to travel from the moon back to earth, creating a software component to plan such a manoeuvre and testing it initially, planning and executing a gravity-assisted flyby around other planets or celestial bodies and preventing the PM from crashing uncontrollably on to the moon’s surface when it reaches the end of its lifespan, thereby fulfilling the requirement of not creating any debris. These pivotal points in the Chandrayaan-3 mission not only illustrate the technical achievements of adjusting orbits and executing complex manoeuvres, but also lay the groundwork for future missions.”
Indian Defense
INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’
![INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’ INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZma1qWeuxixzWQNFcr4E4SAi5H75pCMZo9JakaQJiVRexORL1lXrVoTdk5qG1ZDkW-5fVJWE_6fplkC26hngBLsrFykHim9DHPap9wRCkdY_N749Uwptd47uWs05vhF6gG2R0rXxDyTUddYLuUH9busYEaBLNDmJXJB8Izz9Z5EOpYw7OAPC62TlOJLY/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/K-4_Submarine_Launched_Missile.jpg)
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19SGuw5MDtceMDoa0iWWc6lzi_A9iQxNxQL85xBe_cjW19y1MJH_m0JQ6re1ywjpNTyBFKdBQ1cjAHGjteRJrEPDtiAPFF-PKnijwEJh4DyiJ0hcmhl2qzNMeyknnFjFoZlJF4ldSscTnJ67yEy9G1O_gsd9vkL3I9rg19smXdVkwIddBSPQJV9Y3QaQ/s16000/K-4_Submarine_Launched_Ballistic_Missile_SLBM.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
Indian Defense
After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%
![After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78% After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gqEMaVLWzwfWoT_TYd9Nq6l_8hzGBwBcYv73-7NyZhMMOVESTbGDkgJ3-och4WjuFOk_g77IqZ4X6X0w9rasItBPQV8nZJXEL4XLy-DjFQbSXdhAkkJnJ3LDFF89t6DWWfsoaB0lH44jZtimqJ1gcelysqmbPAMJE5dRUMhjbOYBH2TG5D8BUPiwQHU/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Sukhoi_Su30MKI_Fighter_1.jpg)
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
Indian Defense
Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace
![Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DIV1319opVfF8xXfP0sNkvUWwmHz1_Z_uMnNlj6rmFdhUAIsZ3TlJ-SweWhTSzvDmv3bGOZBeWERJE6U8S2Va_JDYmX2_SVcIpjshN1r7OE_efYIvjPOmD0npIS3qa1DhofPsHi41veOUyKwhAGftQmO3iSnldJoWS-JOaTYn8iUKxo4JC7XcN-AZpI/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Akash_Air_Defence_Missile_1.jpg)
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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