ISRO is now gearing up for a futuristic mode - space habitation. In an exclusive interview, ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair says: “Our major thrust is towards permanent habitation in space and on some of the nearest objects like the moon and Mars. Already, efforts towards these possibilities have begun and most of the world’s space agencies have a framework developed to achieve this.” He shares his thoughts about ISRO’s success, Chandrayaan-1 and the agency’s vision for space over the next 25 years. Excerpts from the interview:

The national space programme has achieved remarkable success over the last five decades, with the attainment of social objectives as its guiding principle. How do you see it developing over the coming years in the areas of launch vehicles, satellites and space applications?
NAIR: The most significant aspect of the Indian space programme has been to realise the vision of achieving self-reliance in building a variety of satellites, orbit them with indigenous rockets and evolve innovative applications that benefit society. Today, Indian space systems like INSAT for communication, television broadcasting, meteorology and disaster warning and the Indian Remote Sensing satellite (IRS) for resources monitoring and management are playing a major role in developmental tasks. The emphasis in satellite communications will be on meeting the growing demand for transponders and continuous technology improvements. Material processing, building large space systems like space stations, servicing and refuelling of satellites in space, and the potential of space to augment the terrestrial energy sources will become important. Having established a substantial capability, the Indian space programme has to take cognisance of the world space scenario in coming decades. These require a large-scale involvement of human beings in space for building and maintaining space assets. Therefore, it will be necessary to initiate the activities towards manned missions in the coming years. Scientific exploration of space has gained impetus in recent years with the initiation of our first mission to moon, Chandrayaan-1. This will be followed by a multi-wavelength astronomy satellite, ASTROSAT and climatic research satellite Megha-Tropiques. These missions will be followed by Chandrayaan-2 and Astrosat-2 for pursuing scientific exploration. Besides, small satellite missions for scientific studies could be undertaken. With the primary interest to understand the solar system’s evolution, technology development could be initiated towards exploration of Mars, asteroids and comets. Along with meeting the developmental needs of the nation, the country’s space programme will play an important role in the exploration of space, the next frontier of mankind.

How has Chandrayaan-1 progressed? Are we still on track to take advantage of the launch window opening in April 2008?
NAIR: Chandrayaan-1 is progressing as per schedule and the launch is to take place in the first half of 2008. The design of Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft has already been completed after preliminary design review. Fabrication and testing is in progress. Spacecraft bus systems like power, telemetry, etc, have been realised and are undergoing tests. The spacecraft testing will begin by the year-end. Instruments from NASA, ESA and Bulgaria are expected to arrive between August and October and the delivery schedules match the integration schedule of the spacecraft. Establishment of the state-of-the-art Deep Space Network (DSN) station is progressing at Byalalu, about 40 km from Bangalore. The DSN will consist of fully moveable 18 m and 32 m diameter antennas, developed indigenously by ECIL, BARC and ISRO. They will support the Chandrayaan-1 mission and also future space exploration missions.

Following the debate on whether a manned mission into space is needed, by when do you expect to submit the report to the government on whether or not a manned mission is required?
NAIR: Manned space programme studies have been going on for the past few years at ISRO and an overview of the concept developed was presented to about 80 senior scientists from across the country in November 2006. The concept includes the development of an autonomous Orbital Vehicle which could be launched by India’s Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle - GSLV-Mk II, or GSLV-Mk III. Considering the long lead time involved, the scientists were of the view that such a project should be initiated at the earliest.Atask team has been formed to generate a detailed report. It will be submitted to the Government in about a year. Once the project is approved it will take about 8-10 years to accomplish the mission.

India has been seriously considering tapping the satellite launch vehicle market over the last couple of years. What have been the major gains for Antrix in the last year and what does the future hold?
NAIR: With 10 consecutively successful launches, PSLV has indeed emerged as a very competitive vehicle for launching satellites. The precision with which PSLV-C8 placed the Italian satellite, AGILE, in the specified orbit point to the maturity of its design. Moreover, it has also shown its versatility for placing satellites in polar orbit, inclined orbit and geosynchronous transfer orbit (Kalpana-1), as well as launching multiple satellites, including placing satellites in different orbits in a single mission. Last year, one failure of GSLVcannot cause a serious setback to our efforts in gaining a foothold in the launch vehicle market. ANTRIX is continuing its discussions with several space agencies for launching their satellites. Satellites from Singapore University, a cluster of satellites from the Canadian Space Agency and a few more to be launched by the PSLVare lined up.

Ascramjet engine was tested for seven seconds in 2006 and we’ve successfully completed the space capsule recovery experiment. How soon can we see the technology demonstrator for the reusable launch vehicle (RLV) flying?
NAIR: The successful launch of the Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1) by PSLV and its de-orbiting and recovery in January 2007 was indeed a major landmark to demonstrate important technologies like air-thermo structures, deceleration and flotation systems, navigation guidance and control. It is planned to flight-test an integrated SCRAMJET propulsion system using ISRO’s Rohini Sounding Rocket RH-560. It should be noted that technologies related to fully reusable and air-breathing propulsion the world over are still in their nascent stage. Other than USA, which has carried out in flight demonstration of supersonic combustion for a short time, countries like Japan, China, Russia,Australia and Europe are still in the phase of initial on-ground tests. It will take at least 10 to 15 years to employ these systems in operational flights.

What is your view on micro-satellites and their future?
NAIR: Advances made in the miniaturisation of electronics and use of nano-technologies and such other developments could make small satellites or micro-satellites a reality in the coming years. But it will be quite some time before they will emerge on commercial scale.

China’s test of an anti-satellite mission has renewed concerns about the possibility of the militarisation of outer space. While India’s policy in this regard is well-known, do you see a need for India to prepare defensive measures?
NAIR: China’s test of an anti-satellite mission is of concern to all countries and the matter has been discussed at the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in which India plays a major role. While it is possible for India to develop a system to destroy other satellites, it is not on India’s space agenda. Protection of space systems from the possibility of being damaged by others is an expensive effort.

Where do you see India’s space programme emerging over the next 25 years?
NAIR: Space is the next frontier for mankind. Besides a vast expansion in commercial applications of space for communication, broadcasting, resources survey, disaster management, weather prediction and so on, there could be a major thrust towards permanent habitation in space and on some of the nearest objects like moon and mars. Already, efforts towards these possibilities have begun and most of the space agencies have a framework developed to achieve this. Low cost access to space and more reliable platforms for space exploration could be realised. Scientific exploration of the universe with manmade probes journeying beyond the solar system in the vast expanse of space will steal the limelight. Solar power station in space and mining on moon and Mars or even other planets to meet the energy demand on earth’s could become a reality. While these endeavours will involve enormous costs, the human urge to explore the universe could promote intense international cooperation like what is already being demonstrated in the establishment of the International Space Station. India would certainly expect to play a major role in these ventures and that would be possible when India, on its own, shows its capability through undertaking advanced mission like mission to moon and manned space missions.