by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business, Corporate, Corporate Buzz, Economy, Emerging Businesses, Markets, News, Technology
Chennai : Indian space agency ISRO has shortlisted 14 companies out of over 100 companies that showed interest in its lithium ion cell technology, said a senior official.
“Over 100 companies showed interest in our lithium ion cell technology. Out of them, 14 have been shortlisted. We will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with them once they agree for the same,” S. Somanath, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), told IANS.
The VSSC is part of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Somanath said ISRO has already transferred the technology to BHEL for production of space grade lithium ion batteries.
In June it announced its decision to transfer its own lithium ion cell technology to the Indian industry on a non-exclusive basis for use in automobiles for Rs 1 crore.
The space agency had said the initiative will accelerate the development of the indigenous electric vehicle industry.
The VSSC, located in Kerala, will transfer the lithium ion cell technology to the successful Indian industries/start-ups on a non-exclusive basis to establish production facilities in the country that can produce cells of varying size, capacity, energy density and power density catering to the entire spectrum of power storage requirements, ISRO had said.
The ISRO makes lithium ion cell batteries of various sizes and power (1.5 ampere to 100 ampere) to power its rockets and satellites.
Presently, the lithium ion battery is the most dominant battery system finding applications for a variety of societal needs, including mobile phones, laptops, cameras and many other portable consumer gadgets apart from industrial applications and aerospace.
Recent advances in the battery technology have made it the preferred power source for electric and hybrid electric vehicles also.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Markets, News, Technology
By Venkatachari Jagannathan,
Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) : India on Thursday put into orbit its own earth observation satellite with a sharp eye, the Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS), and 30 other foreign satellites in text-book style.
In the process, India has crossed the milestone of lifting and putting into orbit over 250 foreign satellites. India has till date has put into orbit 269 foreign satellites.
The notable aspect of the rocket mission is the placing of the satellites in two different orbits — one at a higher altitude and the others in a lower one.
After the successful launch, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K. Sivan said: “Once again Indian space scientists showed their excellence. The PSLV injected the HysIS first and later the 30 foreign customers satellites.
The HysIS is a state-of-the-art satellite. The heart of the satellite, a critical chip called the optical imaging detector array chip was designed by ISRO’s Satellite Applications Centre (SAC) and fabricated by Semi-Conductor Laboratory of ISRO.
It can read upto 1000 x 66 pixels.
Queried about the HysIS’ application for strategic/defence purposes Sivan said: “Our duty is to build the satellite to identify the object clearly. The actual use of the data is left for the users.”
The primary goal of HysIS is to study the earth’s surface in visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, he said.
Hyperspectral imaging is an imaging spectroscopy which combines the power of digital imaging and spectroscopy.
This imaging technology enables to distinguish objects on the earth by reading the spectrum for each pixel of an item seen from the space.
On the manned space mission planned by ISRO, Sivan said the first unmanned mission — a prelude to the manned one — will happen in December 2020.
There will be another mission later again ahead of the human space mission by 2022.
When asked about the training to be provided to the Indian astronauts Sivan said the plan is to develop most of the facilities within the country and for some training they may go overseas.
Sivan also said that the next launch will be of communication satellite GSAT-11 from French Guiana on December 5, which will followed by GSAT-7A by the Indian rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from here.
According to him, in 2019 ISRO will be launching a micro-satellite, Chandrayaan-2 (moon mission), RISAT and Cartosat satellites.
Meanwhile on Thursday at about 9.58 a.m., the four staged/engine PSLV-CA rocket, standing 44.4 metres tall and weighing about 230 tonne, blasted off from the first launch pad.
With the fierce orange flame at its tail, the rocket slowly gained speed and went up enthralling the people at the rocket port while the engine roared like a rolling thunder adding to the thrill.
More thrilling aspect came in when rocket’s fourth stage/engine was cut/switched off in just over 16 minutes after the lift off.
A minute later, the Indian satellite HysIS with a mission life of five years was placed in 636 km polar sun synchronous orbit.
Following that the rocket was brought to a lower altitude of 503 km.
Post HysIS ejection, the rocket’s fourth stage was restarted at 59.65 minutes after the lift off.
The co-passengers of HysIS include one micro and 29 nano satellites from eight different countries.
Later, the rocket was switched off and on, twice before the final foreign passenger was put into orbit about 112.79 minutes after the rocket’s lift off.
All the foreign satellites were placed in a 504 km orbit, just as the overseas customers wanted their satellites to be placed, Sivan said.
While 23 satellites are from the US, the rest are from Australia, Canada, Columbia, Finland, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Spain.
These satellites have been commercially contracted for launch through Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO.
(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Markets, News, Technology
Chennai : India’s latest communication satellite, GSAT-29, was pushed further upwards towards its intended spot on Friday morning, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.
The satellite’s orbit was successfully raised further by firing the liquid apogee motor engine at 10.27 a.m. for an hour and forty minutes. Thereafter, the GSAT-29’s apogee/perigee was 35,837 km and 32,825 km. The satellite takes 22.7 hours to orbit the earth.
The advanced communication satellite, which will also link Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern states under the Digital India programme, was put into orbit by India’s latest and heaviest geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV-Mk III/D2) on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, ISRO Chairman K. Sivan said the three operations would raise the satellite from the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) to geostationary orbit (GSO).
The first operation was carried out on Thursday morning by firing the satellite’s engine for an hour and thirty-five minutes.
With a life-span of 10 years, GSAT-29 is a multi-beam satellite that carries Ka/Ku-band high-throughput communication transponders.
In addition, several new technologies such as Q/V-band payload, data transmission through optical communication link would also be demonstrated helping realise future advanced satellites, Sivan said.
The Q/V-band payload, data transmission through optical communication link would be used for satellite to satellite communication, said D.K. Das, Director, Space Applications Centre, ISRO. Its frequency is not yet crowded.
The satellite also carries a 55-metre geo-high resolution camera that would be fixed in the weather satellites, once it starts functioning, Sivan said.
A combination of high throughput satellites — GSAT-19, GSAT-29, GSAT-11 and GSAT-20 — would provide the high speed internet needed for the success of the Digital India programme, he added.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Branding, Business, Investing, Markets, Medium Enterprise, Sales, SMEs, Technology
By Venkatachari Jagannathan,
Chennai : Over 130 companies have shown interest in the Indian space agency’s lithium ion cell technology and the pre-application conference will be held on Tuesday, said a senior official.
“The response to our announcement to transfer the lithium ion cell technology is overwhelming. More than 130 companies have purchased the RFQ document. The pre-application conference will be held on Tuesday,” S. Somanath, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), told IANS.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in June announced its decision to transfer its own lithium ion cell technology to the Indian industry on a non-exclusive basis for usage in automobiles for Rs 1 crore.
The space agency had said the initiative will accelerate the development of the indigenous electric vehicle industry.
The VSSC, located in Kerala, will transfer the lithium ion cell technology to the successful Indian industries/start-ups on a non-exclusive basis to establish production facilities in the country that can produce cells of varying size, capacity, energy density and power density catering to the entire spectrum of power storage requirements, ISRO had said.
According to Somanath, the transfer of technology will start from transfer to documentation.
“Successful companies can come to VSSC and familiarise themselves about the battery technology. We do not have the manpower to depute to the technology buyer’s place,” Somanath said.
According to him, the lithium ion cell battery technology buyers can innovate further so address the market needs.
“Batch manufacturing of lithium ion cells is sufficient for ISRO’s needs. Whereas in the case of mass production it is only the industry that can do it,” he added.
Somanath said the ISRO makes lithium ion cell batteries of various sizes and power (1.5 ampere to 100 ampere) to power its rockets and satellites.
“ISRO will not get any royalty from the buyers of its lithium ion cell technology. Our idea is to enable the industry to develop,” Somanath said.
He said ISRO for its use will source lithium ion batteries from Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) as the technology has been transferred to the power equipment major.
Last month, ISRO issued the RFQ containing a brief description of the qualification process and technology transfer process, instructions to applicants, eligibility criteria, timelines and other details.
All queries or request for additional information concerning the RFQ will be addressed at the pre-application conference, the space agency had said.
ISRO also said that the “competent firm’s security deposit will be adjusted against the technology transfer fee of Rs 1 crore. The security deposit (Rs 400,000) of unsuccessful applicants or withdrawn applications will be returned, without any interest”.
The one-time technology transfer fee has to be paid within 30 days of the qualification date.
“Technology shall be transferred to all/any of the competent firms who qualify the eligibility criteria as specified in the RFQ. The required process documents shall be provided by ISRO at the time of signing of technology transfer agreement and payment of technology transfer fee,” ISRO had said.
Presently, the lithium-ion battery is the most dominant battery system finding applications for a variety of societal needs including mobile phones, laptops, cameras and many other portable consumer gadgets apart from industrial applications and aerospace.
Recent advances in the battery technology have made it the preferred power source for electric and hybrid electric vehicles also.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Markets, News, Technology
By Venkatachari Jagannathan,
Chennai : The 27-hour countdown for Thursday’s launch of an Indian rocket carrying strategic communication satellite GSAT-6A was progressing smoothly, an ISRO official said.
According to the Indian Space Research Organisation, the real time systems check operations have been completed.
The countdown began at 1.56 p.m. on Wednesday.
During the countdown, the rocket will be fueled up and its systems would also be checked.
The 415.6-tonne GSLV rocket measuring 49.1 metre tall is scheduled to blast off on Thursday at 4.56 p.m. from the second launch pad in Sriharikota, 105 km from here.
The GSAT-6A satellite will be put into orbit around 17 minutes after the rocket’s lift off.
According to the ISRO, two improvements — induction of high thrust Vikas engine and electromechanical actuation system — have been made in the rocket’s second stage this time around.
The ISRO said the GSAT-6A was similar to the GSAT-6.
However, the two satellites became a subject of controversy as 90 per cent of transponders were to be leased to Devas Multimedia by the ISRO’s commercial arm Antrix Corporation under a deal which was annulled in February 2011 on the grounds that the country’s defence needs had to be met.
Under the controversial deal, the Bengaluru-based Devas was to use the transponders of GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A in the crucial S-Band wavelength (that was primarily kept for the country’s strategic interests) for its digital multimedia service for 12 years.
Antrix had signed the $300 million contract with Devas in January 2005 and obtained the sanction of the Space Commission and the union cabinet for the two satellites without informing the government that the bulk capacity would be leased to the multimedia service provider.
When the controversy broke in December 2009, the ISRO ordered a review of the deal and subsequently the Space Commission had recommended its annulment on July 2, 2010. Antrix terminated the deal on February 25, 2011.
Subsequently, the GSAT-6 was launched in 2015.
“We have slightly tweaked the configuration of GSAT-6 from the original one to suit the needs of strategic users,” ISRO’s then Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar told IANS after the launch of GSAT-6.
The controversy and the legal fight is continuing between the parties.
—IANS
