Meet the team of college students behind India's experimental communications satellite- named after pioneering space scientist Satish Dhawan.

South Asia Diary EXCLUSIVE: The team behind India's Satish Dhawan satellite

It has somewhat become a ritual in foreign space agencies to carry the names of common people on-board satellites that are undertaking ambitious missions. Now, this trend is being kickstarted in India, by Chennai-based SpaceKidz, that will be launching their SD Sat (an experimental communication satellite)&nbsp;on-board ISRO’s PSLV-C51 rocket in early 2021.&nbsp;

Satish Dhawan Satellite (SD Sat) is a 30x10x10cm cuboid, which is being launched into orbit to study space radiation, the magnetosphere and most importantly to demonstrate the indigenously designed and developed nanosatellite components, in line with Indian government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) policy. The satellite is named after Prof. Satish Dhawan, a former ISRO chairman and among the pioneers of space technology in India.&nbsp;

This miniature spacecraft would also test the capabilities of LoRa (Long range) technology in space which could be helpful for many applications in the future in short and M2M (machine-to-machine) communication. LoRa is a long-range, low-power wireless radio frequency technology that has become a common platform for the Internet of Things (IoT) networks worldwide.&nbsp;

According to Dr. Srimathy Kesan, Founder and CEO of SpaceKidz India, this satellite is their most ambitious yet and the first one that would have propulsion of its own. It is important to note that SpaceKidz earlier satellites were maintained in orbit on board PS4 (final and fourth stage) of the PSLV rocket for up to 6 months after launch. But SD Sat would fly on its own like the larger satellites and is expected to have a mission life of two years.&nbsp;

While their satellite would be primarily using Frequency-shift keying (FSK) to transmit data back to earth, LoRa would be the secondary. Experimenting with LoRa would help them study the feasibility of using LoRa in ground communications for industrial purposes.&nbsp;

“SD Sat (30x10x10cm)is a significant step for our 10-member team of college students, because so far we’ve only done 10cm cubes. The satellite fabrication is underway and it will be handed over to ISRO within three weeks from now. The important aspect of this mission is to establish communication with the satellite from our ground station in Chennai” she told Zee Media.

When asked about the idea of sending names of common people to space, she said it was an initiative to create awareness, generate curiosity and to get more people fascinated about space science, which many still perceive as inaccessible.&nbsp;

“We’ve shared a link on our website where people can enter their names (by Jan 3rd), we’ll compile the list and put the names on a memory card that’ll be on-board the satellite. Everyone who registered their name will get a boarding pass”, she added.&nbsp;

As a goodwill gesture, SpaceKidz team had also shared a similar boarding pass with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they had virtually interacted with him the previous week.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

It has somewhat become a ritual in foreign space agencies to carry the names of common people on-board satellites that are undertaking ambitious missions. Now, this trend is being kickstarted in India, by Chennai-based SpaceKidz, that will be launching their SD Sat (an experimental communication satellite) on-board ISRO’s PSLV-C51 rocket in early 2021.

It has somewhat become a ritual in foreign space agencies to carry the names of common people on-board satellites that are undertaking ambitious missions. Now, this trend is being kickstarted in India, by Chennai-based SpaceKidz, that will be launching their SD Sat (an experimental communication satellite) on-board ISRO’s PSLV-C51 rocket in early 2021. Satish Dhawan Satellite (SD Sat) is a 30x10x10cm cuboid, which is being launched into orbit to study space radiation, the magnetosphere and most importantly to demonstrate the indigenously designed and developed nanosatellite components, in line with Indian government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) policy. The satellite is named after Prof. Satish Dhawan, a former ISRO chairman and among the pioneers of space technology in India. This miniature spacecraft would also test the capabilities of LoRa (Long range) technology in space which could be helpful for many applications in the future in short and M2M (machine-to-machine) communication. LoRa is a long-range, low-power wireless radio frequency technology that has become a common platform for the Internet of Things (IoT) networks worldwide. According to Dr. Srimathy Kesan, Founder and CEO of SpaceKidz India, this satellite is their most ambitious yet and the first one that would have propulsion of its own. It is important to note that SpaceKidz earlier satellites were maintained in orbit on board PS4 (final and fourth stage) of the PSLV rocket for up to 6 months after launch. But SD Sat would fly on its own like the larger satellites and is expected to have a mission life of two years. While their satellite would be primarily using Frequency-shift keying (FSK) to transmit data back to earth, LoRa would be the secondary. Experimenting with LoRa would help them study the feasibility of using LoRa in ground communications for industrial purposes. “SD Sat (30x10x10cm)is a significant step for our 10-member team of college students, because so far we’ve only done 10cm cubes. The satellite fabrication is underway and it will be handed over to ISRO within three weeks from now. The important aspect of this mission is to establish communication with the satellite from our ground station in Chennai” she told Zee Media. When asked about the idea of sending names of common people to space, she said it was an initiative to create awareness, generate curiosity and to get more people fascinated about space science, which many still perceive as inaccessible. “We’ve shared a link on our website where people can enter their names (by Jan 3rd), we’ll compile the list and put the names on a memory card that’ll be on-board the satellite. Everyone who registered their name will get a boarding pass”, she added. As a goodwill gesture, SpaceKidz team had also shared a similar boarding pass with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they had virtually interacted with him the previous week.

This Indian communication satellite will carry your name to space at no cost

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prof. Satish Dhawan, a pioneer who spearheaded ISRO's efforts as the organisation’s second Chairman, an Indian space startup has unveiled their indigenously developed cryogenic engine - Dhawan-I. This cryogenic engine is meant to fuel the upper stage of their rocket Vikram -II.

The company, Skyroot Aerospace has already tested a solid-fueled engine, but the cryogenic engine is even more significant because of the extreme complexity in the technology and the handling of its fuels. A cryogenic engine uses liquid fuel and an oxidizer that is maintained at extremely cold temperatures. Cryogenic is a generic term that can be used to describe temperatures below -150 degrees Celsius. Such engines are used in the uppermost stages of rockets, which are used for propulsion in space.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/with-isro-assistance-indias-skyroot-aerospace-aims-maiden-rocket-launch-by-dec-2021-320835">With ISRO assistance, India’s Skyroot Aerospace aims maiden rocket launch by Dec-2021</a>

A typical rocket consists of two or more stages, each of which would have its own engines(either single or packed in a cluster). Simply put, a rocket is a combination of multiple engines(stages) that are vertically stacked.&nbsp;Skyroot Aerospace has revealed that their cryogenic engine would be powered by Liquid Natural gas as fuel(LNG) &amp; Liquid Oxygen as oxidizer (LoX).&nbsp;

“This engine is India’s first fully Cryogenic engine running on futuristic fuel LNG,” said V. Gnanagandhi an ex-ISRO scientist &amp; Padmashri awardee who is the Sr. Vice President at Skyroot, leading their Cryogenic propulsion team.

It is said that LNG being used comprises of over 90% methane gas, thus making it a clean-burning, low-cost, highly re-usable field which is suited for long-duration space missions.&nbsp;

Pawan Kumar Chandana, CEO of Skyroot Aerospace says that their team has successfully completed many tests to check the fuel flow and structural integrity. He added that they were building a dedicated test facility for hot-fire testing of this engine.&nbsp;

“Dhawan-I is a 100% 3D Printed cryogenic engine with regenerative cooling,” says Naga Bharath Daka, COO. Regenerative cooling refers to a configuration where, some or all of the propellant is passed through tubes, channels, or in a jacket around the combustion chamber or nozzle to cool the engine. This is effective because the fuel (and sometimes the oxidizer) are good coolants. The heated propellant is then fed into a special gas generator or injected directly into the main combustion chamber.

While the company has successfully tested the upper-most stage engine of its first rocket Vikram-I, the initial stage engines of Vikram-I are being manufactured. If all goes well, the company is looking forward to a maiden launch of Vikram-I by December 2021, with the support and guidance of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The cryogenic engine won’t see action in Vikram-I and is meant for their bigger rocket Vikram-II.&nbsp;

In terms of payload capacity, Vikram I is meant to lift 225 kg to 500 km Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) and 315 kg to 45º inclination 500 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Vikram II is designed for 410 kg to 500 km SSPO and 520 kg to 45º inclination 500 km LEO. In the case of Vikram III, we are looking at 580 kg to 500 km SSPO and 720 kg to 45º inclination 500 km LEO.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prof. Satish Dhawan, a pioneer who spearheaded ISRO's efforts as the organisation’s second Chairman, an Indian space startup has unveiled their indigenously developed cryogenic engine - Dhawan-I.

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prof. Satish Dhawan, a pioneer who spearheaded ISRO's efforts as the organisation’s second Chairman, an Indian space startup has unveiled their indigenously developed cryogenic engine - Dhawan-I. This cryogenic engine is meant to fuel the upper stage of their rocket Vikram -II. The company, Skyroot Aerospace has already tested a solid-fueled engine, but the cryogenic engine is even more significant because of the extreme complexity in the technology and the handling of its fuels. A cryogenic engine uses liquid fuel and an oxidizer that is maintained at extremely cold temperatures. Cryogenic is a generic term that can be used to describe temperatures below -150 degrees Celsius. Such engines are used in the uppermost stages of rockets, which are used for propulsion in space. Also read | With ISRO assistance, India’s Skyroot Aerospace aims maiden rocket launch by Dec-2021 A typical rocket consists of two or more stages, each of which would have its own engines(either single or packed in a cluster). Simply put, a rocket is a combination of multiple engines(stages) that are vertically stacked. Skyroot Aerospace has revealed that their cryogenic engine would be powered by Liquid Natural gas as fuel(LNG) & Liquid Oxygen as oxidizer (LoX). “This engine is India’s first fully Cryogenic engine running on futuristic fuel LNG,” said V. Gnanagandhi an ex-ISRO scientist & Padmashri awardee who is the Sr. Vice President at Skyroot, leading their Cryogenic propulsion team. It is said that LNG being used comprises of over 90% methane gas, thus making it a clean-burning, low-cost, highly re-usable field which is suited for long-duration space missions. Pawan Kumar Chandana, CEO of Skyroot Aerospace says that their team has successfully completed many tests to check the fuel flow and structural integrity. He added that they were building a dedicated test facility for hot-fire testing of this engine. “Dhawan-I is a 100% 3D Printed cryogenic engine with regenerative cooling,” says Naga Bharath Daka, COO. Regenerative cooling refers to a configuration where, some or all of the propellant is passed through tubes, channels, or in a jacket around the combustion chamber or nozzle to cool the engine. This is effective because the fuel (and sometimes the oxidizer) are good coolants. The heated propellant is then fed into a special gas generator or injected directly into the main combustion chamber. While the company has successfully tested the upper-most stage engine of its first rocket Vikram-I, the initial stage engines of Vikram-I are being manufactured. If all goes well, the company is looking forward to a maiden launch of Vikram-I by December 2021, with the support and guidance of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The cryogenic engine won’t see action in Vikram-I and is meant for their bigger rocket Vikram-II. In terms of payload capacity, Vikram I is meant to lift 225 kg to 500 km Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) and 315 kg to 45º inclination 500 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Vikram II is designed for 410 kg to 500 km SSPO and 520 kg to 45º inclination 500 km LEO. In the case of Vikram III, we are looking at 580 kg to 500 km SSPO and 720 kg to 45º inclination 500 km LEO.

Space startup unveils India’s first privately developed Cryogenic Rocket engine

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South Asia Diary EXCLUSIVE: The team behind India's Satish Dhawan satellite

This Indian communication satellite will carry your name to space at no cost

Space startup unveils India’s first privately developed Cryogenic Rocket engine