ISRO INERTIAL SYSTEM UNIT

ISRO Inertial Systems unit (IISU) was established in July 1990 as an independent Unit of ISRO with a mandate to carry out research and development towards inertial sensors and systems and allied satellite elements for various ISRO missions and to ensure the needs of ISRO Launch Vehicle and Satellite programmes are met in terms of quantity, quality and schedule.

 

The Unit is located at Vattiyoorkavu complex of ISRO at Trivandrum. A Beryllium Machining Facility (BMF) which is recently renamed as Sintered Materials Machining Facility (SMMF) at New Mumbai is also operated by the Unit through the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

It is responsible to realise the wide variety of Inertial Systems, actuators and mechanisms for Indian Launch Vehicles and Spacecrafts.

IISU has total capability to design, engineer, develop, qualify and deliver the inertial systems, actuators and mechanisms to entire Indian space programme.

IISU has developed capability for inertial sensors, inertial systems, navigation systems and flight software.

In actuator area IISU has full capability towards various sizes of Momentum Wheels, Reaction Wheels and Magnetically Suspended Reaction Wheels.

In mechanisms area IISU has full capability for solar array drive, scan mirror mechanism and payload steering mechanism.

IISU has capability to develop integrated checkout systems.

IISU has built up capacity to realise 3 and 4 systems for launch vehicle and spacecraft systems, which will be enhanced to 5, 6 system for launch vehicle and spacecraft respectively in 10th plan period.

DIRECTOR (SDSC - SHAR) INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

Shri P. Kunhikrishnan

Shri P. Kunhikrishnan took over as the Director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR) on 1st June 2015.

He joined ISRO at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Trivandrum, in 1986, after completing B.Tech in Electronics & Communication from College of Engineering, Trivandrum. Posted as an Avionics Engineer in the Systems Reliability Entity, he played a major role in the area of System level Quality Assurance of launch vehicle avionics for different missions of ISRO, starting from ASLV. Later, he took over as Head of the Quality Division for Test & Evaluation and was responsible for the flight certification of avionics systems in the Launch Vehicles of ISRO.

In February 2009, he assumed charge as the Associate Project Director of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and was instrumental in successfully accomplishing two important missions of ISRO, namely, PSLV-C12/RISAT-2 and PSLV-C14/Oceansat-2.

In June 2010, Shri Kunhikrishnan was elevated to the post of Project Director, PSLV. During the tenure as Mission Director, he has spearheaded 13 momentous missions of PSLV (PSLV-C15 to PSLV-C27) and steered each of these to ISRO's cherished successes. He streamlined the success saga of PSLV by ably guiding the popular launches of Mars Orbiter, the first four satellites of IRNSS and also by triumphantly achieving the commercial missions of SPOT-6 and SPOT-7 of France. His rich and diverse experience in leading the teams for the launch of a whole variety of Indian satellites such as Cartosat-2B, Resourcesat-2, GSAT-12, Megha-tropiques, RISAT-1 and SARAL is highly commendable.

In February 2015, he was appointed as the Deputy Director of VSSC for Mechanisms, Vehicle Integration & Testing (MVIT) Entity. From June 2015, he is leading the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR as Director.

Shri. P Kunhikrishnan is the recipient of ISRO Individual Merit Award for the year 2010, the Astronautical society of India (ASI) award for the year 2011 and the ISRO Performance Excellence Award for the year 2013.

Shri. P Kunhikrishnan is the recipient of ISRO Team Excellence Award as Team Leader of PSLV-C25/Mars Orbiter Mission.

ISRO Telemetry Tracking & Command Network

ISRO Telemetry Tracking & Command Network

ISRO Telemetry Tracking & Command Network (ISTRAC) is an independent unit of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), under the aegis of Department of Space, Government of India. ISTRAC is responsible for providing Space Operation services that include spacecraft control, TTC support services and other related projects and services, for the launch vehicle and low earth orbiting spacecraft and deep space missions of ISRO and other space agencies around the world. It also spreads its wings in the area of RADAR development and establishing the Ground Segment Network for Navigation Mission of ISRO.

actual view of monitoring center during MoM operation

32 - meters Deep space antenna at Bayalu, karnataka.

ISTRAC is responsible for providing Space Operation services that include spacecraft control, TTC support services and other related projects and services, for the launch vehicle and low earth orbiting spacecraft and deep space missions of ISRO and other space agencies around the world. Development of RADAR systems for tracking & atmospheric applications and Establishment of Ground Segment Network for Indian Regional  Navigation Satellite System of ISRO are the additional responsibilities of ISTRAC.
 
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), over the years, established a comprehensive network of ground stations to provide Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TTC) support to Satellite and Launch vehicle missions. These facilities are grouped under ISRO Telemetry, Tracking And Command Network (ISTRAC) with its headquarters at Bangalore, Karnataka State, INDIA. ISTRAC has TTC ground stations at Bangalore, Lucknow, SHAR (Sriharikota), Thiruvananthapuram, Port Blair Island, Brunei, Biak (Indonesia) and Mauritius, meeting international standards.


The Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN), commissioned during the year 2008, at Byalalu village near Bangalore forms the Ground segment for providing deep space support for India’s prestigious and first Lunar mission, the Chandrayaan-1.

ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC)

Plot No. 12 & 13, 3rd Main, 2nd phase

Peenya Industrial Area

Bangalore – 560 058

50% budget boost by House panel for ISRO

BENGALURU, FEBRUARY 5:  

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology meeting held at ISRO Satellite integration & Testing Establishment (ISITE) bring cheers to the management as Committee approved 50% budget hike for up-gradation, scientific manpower & other Development aspects. 

Ashwani Kumar, Chairman of the committee, addressing reporters said ISRO’s current budget is ₹5,800 crore and non-Plan allocation is ₹1,400 crore. Justifying the hike, Ashwani Kumar said it will help ISRO enhance its manpower, especially high-tech scientific manpower which help in launching more satellites. “An organisation like ISRO should not be starved of funds,” he added. “We have been informed about the need for enhancing manpower, particularly the scientific manpower of ISRO, the lack of which was disabling the organisation to optimise its potential.”

Current Budget: 5,800 crores

Non-Plan allocation: 1,400 crores

AS Kiran Kumar, ISRO Chairman said the process of hiring more scientists was being initiated. This depends on the Centre’s approval. “We need manpower for producing various satellites and also bolster our R&D set up to develop new generation satellite and launch vehicles,” he said.

IRNSS constellation of Indian Navigation Satellites is also going to be complete by March.