The shuttle success

Isro's space plans need a big resources push

On Monday, the Indian Space Research Organisation, or Isro, performed a test of a working-scale model of a reusable launch vehicle (RLV), or space shuttle. The model is 6.5 metres long and weighs about 1,750 kg – approximately one-sixth the size and weight of the planned vehicle. The model’s design is that of a delta-winged aircraft, like the American space shuttles; it took five years to fabricate and cost Rs 95 crore. The model was boosted 65 km above sea level by rocket and released, flying at Mach 5 (about 5,000 kmph). Upon re-entry to the atmosphere after a total flight time of 770 seconds, it withstood temperatures of 7,000 Celsius or more caused by air friction and “landed” at a designated spot in the Bay of Bengal about 450 km from the launch-pad at Sriharikota. The test vehicle will not be recovered. But data it sent back will indicate if propulsion, navigational and guidance systems worked as designed, and if the heat shield held up. At least two more test flights must be made with scale models. The working RLV will be about 40 metres long and it will need a five km-long landing runway. It might be 2030 before it is fully operational.

An RLV could drastically reduce cost of putting payloads into space. As of now, it costs about $20,000 per kg for Isro; an RLV could cut that to $2,000 a kg. The US, Japan, France and the erstwhile Soviet Union had all spent huge amounts on developing shuttles. Isro hopes to cut development costs, given 30 years of technological advances. While the other nations only made demonstration flights, America’s NASA used its shuttles for 135 flights (between 1982-2011). It spent around $450 million per flight. One key difference is that the RLV is unmanned and so cheaper and safer. NASA suffered two terrible disasters with all seven crew members killed on both occasions. Two private corporations are also developing shuttles. SpaceX, promoted by Elon Musk, has used its Dragon to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. SpaceX has also demonstrated its Falcon-9. Blue Origin, which is owned by Jeff Bezos, has demonstrated the New Shepard spacecraft. Both SpaceX and Blue Origin intend to carry passengers and crew though these vehicles are currently unmanned.

Apart from the RLV project, Isro is managing the still-functional Mars Orbiter and preparing for the second moon mission, Chandrayaan II. It is in the latter stages of making the Navic system fully operational, and it continues research and development on cryogenic engines for launching heavier satellites. The agency also aspires to a manned space mission and it would like to build a manned space station. But it will need permission and funding for these. The payoffs from space programmes are hard to fully quantify since space research involves many technologies, and inevitably results in spin-off benefits. NASA for example, has released thousands of patents into the public domain. Devices like pressure pens, vacuum cleaners, smart thermometers, artificial hearts, LED lighting, solar power panels and smart sensors originated in space research. Direct benefits include satellite-based weather and navigational data and communication systems. Beyond this, there are the potential military applications and there is the “inspirational component” of attracting children to science and technology. Isro has more than paid for itself so far. Rather than forcing the agency to work on a shoestring budget, it should be given the resources it needs to speed up its programmes.