2014: A Year Of Technological Advancement For India In Space
In terms of satellite launch numbers, India during the year launched eight from its rocket port at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh (three Indian - 2 for navigation and one for communication - and five foreign). Its heaviest communication satellite - GSAT-16 - went aloft on European space agency Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket on Dec 7.
Radhakrishnan also agreed that one navigation satellite that was planned to be launched in 2014 did not happen.
"It will be launched in early March (2015). On the other hand, the GSAT-16 launch was advanced by several months as it was supposed to go up next March," Radhakrishnan said.
On a larger perspective, the year also saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing the country's decision to launch a SAARC satellite, thereby willing to share the benefits of India's space technology with the members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Looking forward, Radhakrishnan said India will launch five foreign satellites next year including three of Britain's.
He said ISRO will be completing the seven satellite constellation for India's own navigation system next year. These apart, GSAT-6 and GSAT-15 communication satellites and the Astrosat, dedicated to astronomy, will also be launched.
According to him, ISRO has 188 transponders - automatic receivers and transmitters of communication signals - and GSAT-16 will add another 48. In 2015, the GSAT-15 satellite will add another 24 transponders.
"We are looking at enhancing space applications for the central and state governments," he said.
On infrastructure development, Radhakrishnan said the construction of second vehicle assembly building at Sriharikota will increase the number of launches from the second launch pad.
"A study on constructing a third launch pad is in progress. We have to take into consideration the kind of launch vehicles - GSLV-Mark III - and other future rockets to be developed while building the third launch pad," Radhakrishnan said.
He said the health of Mars Orbiter is good and it is for the scientific community to deliberate the results of the experimental studies done by it.
Highlights
Successful launch of GSLV rocket with indigenous cryogenic engine
Two navigational satellites put into orbit
Insertion of Mars Orbiter in Martian Orbit
Flight testing of India's heaviest rocket - GSLV-Mark III (without cryogenic engine)
Flew dummy crew module to test its atmospheric re-entry characteristics
Launched earth observation satellite SPOT-7 (France) along with 4 micro-satellites - AISAT (Germany), NLS-7.1 (Canada), NLS-7.2 (Canada) and VELOX-1 (Singapore) - for a fee.
Signed agreement with NASA on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission for scientific studies on Earth.
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