ISRO set to replace foreign-leased transponders in two years

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to replace the 96 foreign-leased transponders with indigenous built ones within a couple of years.

“ISRO is planning three GSAT launches in the next two years related to communication and broadband satellites. The main purpose of these launches are to replace the transponders leased by foreign satellite players, other than those in the ‘C’ Band,” AS Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO, said on the sidelines of the World Metrology Day Celebrations organised by Metrology Society of India (Southern Region) at CMTI.

Explaining the launches, Kiran Kumar said: “We have launched the GSAT 16 offering 48 transponders in November, and GSAT 15 will go up during this October with transponders. We are coming up with a series of satellite launches to bridge the gap as GSAT 17 and GSAT 18 will be launched during 2016.”

The claims of huge shortage of transponders by private players will be bridged by ISRO in a phased manner.

In total, the country needs 150 additional transponders and not 500 as claimed by private users.

Kiran Kumar said ISRO has plans of developing indigenous atomic clocks.

“These clocks help satellites send signals to the ground for record the time of reception. This will help measure the time difference along with velocity of light that help us study the separation of the two objects,” he explained.

The development of the clock in collaboration with National Physical Laboratories is not for immediate deployment but to replace imported atomic clocks in Indian satellites in future.

He said: “This independent equipment gives us accurate frequency and time measuring capability and stability to our satellites. This will mean each of our satellites will carry domestic atomic clocks that determine what the distance between the satellite and ground receiver.”

On the development of the country’s own regional navigation system through Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), Kiran Kumar said:

“We have four satellites now, remaining three will be launched by March 2016. Many users including entrepreneurs have shown interest in the system.”

Commenting on the recent unseasonal rain in the country which affected crops, Kiran Kumar said: “ISRO can generate images at real time but the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) is yet to develop any suitable model based on current information.

“The IMD-based studies and algorithms should be able to predict future weather patterns and they should come up with models which make use of adequate amount of information,” he explained.

Reacting to reports of ISRO’s plan for a Venus sojourn, Kiran Kumar said it was still in the preliminary stage. “At present, an advisory committee on science headed by former ISRO chief Prof UR Rao has been asked to study future planetary exploration including Mars, Venus or any other planetary systems.”