Why in news: Space-tech company Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test-fired the second stage of its rocket Vikram-1.
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains Examination: General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
What is Skyroot?
Skyroot Aerospace is an Indian space technology startup founded in 2018 by former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientists Pawan Kumar Chandna and Naga Bharat Daka. The company is headquartered in Hyderabad, India. It is one of the first private companies in India to venture into the space sector, specifically focusing on developing and launching small to medium-sized satellites into space.
Key Facts and Achievements:
Focus Area: Skyroot primarily focuses on developing cost-effective, reliable satellite launch vehicles. His vision is to make space flight affordable and accessible.
Vikram series of launch vehicles: One of the major projects of the company is the development of the Vikram series of launch vehicles, named in honor of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, considered the father of the Indian space program. These vehicles are designed to carry small to medium-sized payloads to a variety of orbits. The series consists of Vikram I, Vikram II, and Vikram III, each designed for specific payload capabilities and missions.
Innovation and Technology: Skyroot has made significant advances in rocket technology, including the development of India’s first privately built cryogenic engine, named Dhawan-1 in tribute to the famous Indian rocket scientist Satish Dhawan. The company has also worked on solid-fuel rockets and other innovative propulsion technologies.
Funding and Investments: Skyroot Aerospace has attracted investor attention and has raised funding through various rounds, including significant contributions from Indian and international venture capitalists. This funding supports the company’s research, development, and operational activities.
Regulatory Milestones: Skyroot has been at the forefront of governing India’s space regulations, and has benefited from recent initiatives by the Government of India to encourage private participation in space activities. The company has received the necessary approvals from the Indian Space and Telecommunications authorities for its operations.
Vikram-1 Rocket: Key Features
The Vikram-1 rocket is a significant development in the Indian space sector, representing a significant step forward for private industry participation in space exploration and satellite deployment.
Key features of Vikram-1 rocket:
Three-stage, solid-fuel based: Vikram-1 is designed as a three-stage rocket, which uses solid fuel for its propulsion. This design choice focuses on reliability and simplicity, making it suitable for a range of satellite deployment missions.
Testing of the second stage: The testing of the second stage of Vikram-1 is particularly noteworthy. This stage is critical for launching satellites from Earth’s dense atmosphere into the vacuum of outer space.
The successful test of this stage represents a significant technical achievement, demonstrating Skyroot Aerospace’s ability to design and manufacture advanced propulsion systems.
Largest propulsion system by the Indian private sector: The successful test of the second stage represents the largest propulsion system designed and built by the Indian private sector to date, as well as the first carbon-composite-built motor tested at ISRO facilities. Also represents.
Test Parameters and Achievements: The test achieved a peak thrust at sea-level of 186 kilonewtons (kN), which translates to about 235kN in the vacuum of space. This performance metric underscores the rocket’s capability to support various payload requirements.
Upcoming orbital launches: Skyroot Aerospace plans to launch Vikram-1 in the middle of this year, with customers having already signed up for the first orbital launch. This upcoming launch represents a significant milestone for the company and India’s private sector participation in space exploration.
What is Low Earth Orbit (LEO)?
Low Earth orbit (LEO) refers to the region of space close to the Earth’s surface, typically at an altitude of about 160 kilometers (100 mi) to 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi) above Earth.
Characteristics of Leo:
Altitude: LEO covers orbits ranging from just above the Earth’s atmosphere to 2,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. This range is below the orbits of geostationary satellites and is the closest orbital band to Earth.
Orbital speed: Objects in LEO travel at very high speeds, about 7.8 kilometers per second (28,080 kilometers per hour or 17,450 mph), due to Earth’s gravitational pull to maintain orbit. This speed allows satellites in LEO to complete an orbit around the Earth in about 90 to 120 minutes.
Atmospheric drag: Satellites in LEO experience atmospheric drag, albeit minimal, which can affect their orbit over time. This requires periodic adjustments to their orbits to maintain their position.
Use of LEO:
Satellite imaging and observations: LEO is ideal for Earth observation satellites used for weather forecasting, agricultural monitoring, and environmental monitoring because the proximity to Earth allows high-resolution imaging.
Communications satellites: Some communications satellites operate in LEO to provide global Internet coverage, in particular satellites designed to offer low-latency, broadband services.
Space Station: The International Space Station (ISS) orbits within LEO, facilitating human habitation in space for research in various scientific fields, including biology, physics, astronomy, and other sciences.
Science and research: Satellites and probes in LEO conduct a wide range of scientific research, from atmospheric studies to fundamental physics experiments.
Challenges and Considerations:
Space Debris: LEO is increasingly filled with space debris, including defunct satellites, defunct rocket stages, and collision or disintegration fragments. This poses a threat to operational satellites and human spaceflight missions.
Orbital decay: Satellites in lower LEO orbits can experience orbital decay due to atmospheric drag, eventually re-entering Earth’s atmosphere where they either burn up or fall back to Earth if large enough.
Recent trends:
Satellite constellations: Recent years have seen a significant increase in the launch of satellite constellations in LEO to provide global Internet coverage. Companies like SpaceX (with its Starlink project), OneWeb, and Amazon (Project Kuiper) are deploying thousands of small satellites to create broadband internet networks.
Commercialization: The declining costs of satellite launches and advances in satellite technology have led to a boom in commercial activities in LEO, including private space stations, space tourism, and commercial research laboratories.
LEO remains an important area for space exploration, commercial exploitation, and scientific research, offering unique opportunities and challenges due to its proximity to Earth.
What is cryogenic engine?
- Cryogenic rocket engines use liquefied gas fuels and oxidizers stored at extremely low temperatures.
- First used in the US Atlas-Centaur, crucial for NASA’s Moon missions including the Saturn V rocket.
- Still used in high-performance upper stages and boosters today.
- Examples include ESA’s Ariane 5, JAXA’s H-II, ISRO’s GSLV and LVM3, the US Delta IV, and the Space Launch System.
- Only the United States, Russia, Japan, India, France, and China have operational cryogenic rocket engines, highlighting their technological prowess in space exploration.
India’s satellite launch vehicle
- India’s Satellite Launch Vehicles (SLVs) are notable for their reliability and cost-effectiveness. ISRO’s work on developing the SLV has enabled India to provide commercial satellite launch services to international customers, further enhancing its position in the global space market.
- The development of SLVs like PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) has been instrumental in India’s space exploration missions and satellite deployment.
Foreign investment in the space sector
India has significantly updated its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies in the space sector to attract global investors. The new FDI policy categorizes investment into three main sectors with specified foreign ownership limits: up to 49% for launch vehicles and related systems, up to 74% for satellite manufacturing and operations, and up to 74% for manufacturing components for satellites and user segments Up to 100%. This liberalization aims to promote growth, employment, and technological absorption in the space sector.
Government initiative
Major reforms include the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACE) to facilitate the private sector utilization of the resources and infrastructure of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
The Indian Space Policy 2023 outlines guidelines for private participation, aimed at enhancing space capabilities, commercial presence, and technology development. These reforms demonstrate the government’s commitment to making India a significant player in the global space economy, increasing India’s share from the current 2-3% to over 10% by 2030.
Advantages and disadvantages of private players in the space sector
Benefit:
Innovation: Private companies bring new ideas and innovative approaches to space technology.
Efficiency: They often operate more efficiently than public entities, thereby reducing costs.
Economic Growth: The participation of private players encourages economic growth by creating jobs and promoting new industries.
Disadvantages:
Resource concentration: Private institutions may focus on profitable ventures, while neglecting research that has long-term benefits.
Security Concerns: Increasing private involvement raises concerns about the security of sensitive technologies.
Market Competition: Smaller companies may struggle to compete against well-funded corporations, potentially leading to monopoly.
IN-SPACe: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) plays an important role in promoting private sector participation in India’s space activities. It acts as a bridge between ISRO and private enterprises, enabling private enterprises to utilize ISRO’s infrastructure and resources for space exploration and commercial activities.