from the why-did-nobody-else-think-of-that? dept.
In a first, Isro will make dead rocket stage 'alive' in space for experiments (alt)
Can a dead rocket in space be anything but debris? Isro believes it might actually be useful. Feted for its frugality and tech savvy, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is working on a new technology where it will use the last stage of the PSLV rocket for space experiments. It will perform a technology demonstration of this new system when it launches the PSLV C44 rocket in January.
Talking to [Times of India] here, Isro chairman K Sivan said, "Normally, the last stage of a PSLV rocket after releasing the primary satellite in space becomes dead and categorised as debris. It remains in the same orbit as that of the released satellite. Now, we are working on a new technology where we will give life to this "dead" last stage of PSLV, also called PS4 stage, for six months after its launch. This rocket stage will double up as a satellite. This will be the most cost-effective way to perform experiments in space as we don't have to launch a separate rocket for the purpose." He said that "India is the only country in the world that is working on this new technology".
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
Related Stories
Blue Origin studying repurposing of New Glenn upper stages
Blue Origin has studied repurposing upper stages of its future New Glenn launch vehicle to serve as habitats or for other applications as part of a series of NASA-funded commercialization studies.
Brett Alexander, vice president of government sales and strategy at Blue Origin, said the company looked at ways it could make use of the second stage of New Glenn rather than simply deorbiting the stage at the end of each launch, but emphasized the company currently had no firm plans to reuse those stages at this time.
[...] That included, he said, turning those stages into habitation modules or other facilities for commercial use in Earth orbit. Those stages could be launched already outfitted for those uses or refitted once in orbit.
"We don't have actual plans at this moment" to reuse the upper stages in those ways, he noted. "We'll see what the best approach is at the end of the day."
Better to go fully reusable. New Armstrong?
Related: Lockheed Martin Repurposing Shuttle Cargo Module to Use for Lunar Orbiting Base
ISRO Will Attempt to Repurpose the Final Stage of a Rocket as a Satellite
Blue Origin to Provide Multiple Orbital Launches for Telesat
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Runaway1956 on Sunday December 16 2018, @09:36PM (17 children)
Ever watched a broadcast from the space station? There's so very little room, it seems. Just come up with a method to attach those things to the station, and people can "stand up", stretch, and exercise a little. Hook them together in a circle around the station, put a little spin to the whole mess, and they can "walk". Probably can't give them much "gravity", but anything at all would allow them to exercise muscle and bone that is working hard toward atrophy. .1 G would be better than zero G, wouldn't it?
“I have become friends with many school shooters” - Tampon Tim Walz
(Score: 0, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday December 16 2018, @09:52PM (8 children)
The efforts of India are to think economically, and we should give their idea a chance. For example, being a crude anti-satellite weapon. It may not have the fine manuerevering facilities of a proper satellite, but when the big war comes of all against all, their space debris could eject human shit in all directions, rendering the optical and most RF/microwave sensors of competing nations useless through attenuation of their signals.
Human shit was used to great effect in human history, most notably with Punji Sticks coated with human feces during the Vietnam War. It is no coincidence that India also successfully launched a sattelite called SCATSAT-1 [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 3, Informative) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday December 16 2018, @10:48PM (5 children)
Every time you comment I wonder why you're so frightened of the outside world.
Ignorance can be cured of course, but you're just so terrified of anything outside your direct experience that I suspect you can't be.
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday December 16 2018, @11:45PM (3 children)
Wait for your turn, buddy. It's gonna happen, and soon.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 16 2018, @11:51PM (1 child)
Turn? At what? Are you telling us, Ethanol_fullered, that you have once been covered in human shit? TMI, dude, TMI!
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 17 2018, @05:17AM
Ethanol-fueled, was not like this. Quite the opposite! He was young, with a passion for positivity, filled with hopes and dreams to see the world. But one sad day, in his inebriated state, poor Ethanol-fueled lost his way and found himself in a gutter. Instead of ISRO, where he always wanted to go, shit stick to his face, and his penis. Shit was in his mouth, his nose and his bottle of fermented crap. It was everywhere. And why? Because ISRO, that's WHY!
That day Ethanol went through a change.
It is a cautionary tale.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Monday December 17 2018, @12:07AM
I am also wondering what is going to happen to me soon?
Apart from Christmas of course. That is going to happen soon, but maybe there's something else?
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 16 2018, @11:59PM
Your post has been brought to the attention of the FBI, who take matters involving sexual abuse of children VERY seriously.
(Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 17 2018, @12:05AM
Chimps go to space so they can fling their poo farther.
They should be happy playing gorilla.bas
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 17 2018, @06:34AM
Neverending stupidity is not a character trait to be nurtured.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by takyon on Sunday December 16 2018, @11:09PM
The correct solution to get more living space is known. Put up a Bigelow inflatable module.
The largest design would have over double the volume of the entire ISS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BA_2100 [wikipedia.org]
The more modest design, which should be built around 2020, will be about 1/3 of the volume of the ISS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B330 [wikipedia.org]
SpaceX's BFR upper stage (Starship) would have a bit more volume than the ISS [wikipedia.org]. If the crewed versions are built for travel to Mars, then it should be safe to live in one while in the relative safety of low Earth orbit.
The Nautilus-X [wikipedia.org] concepts not only spin to create false gravity, but could also be combined with Bigelow inflatable modules. An $83-143 million demonstrator could have been sent to the ISS, but it hasn't happened. With the U.S. committed to ISS only until 2025, and other partners only until 2028, any such plans are not happening, unless everyone agrees to keep the ISS from crashing and burning. If we build the stupid LOP-G in lunar orbit, maybe some of these ideas could be used there.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 16 2018, @11:56PM (1 child)
Runaway the rocket scientist! So refreshing to see new ideas, like from 2001, A Space Odyssey, instead of the stale things the faceless bureaucrats at NASA and the IRSO actually do! Tell us more, Runaway!! Please?
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by Runaway1956 on Monday December 17 2018, @06:18AM
Always happy to hear from the Soylent Oddity. Please, keep posting.
“I have become friends with many school shooters” - Tampon Tim Walz
(Score: 2) by RandomFactor on Monday December 17 2018, @01:40AM (2 children)
Unless the dead last stage actually was on a mission to the ISS in the first place (not a random LEO satellite dropoff), it's not likely to be an option due to deltaV required.
В «Правде» нет известий, в «Известиях» нет правды
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday December 17 2018, @06:21AM (1 child)
There's a whole community of people in California who identify as deltaV. If they won't take the job, we can just kidnap them to get the job done.
“I have become friends with many school shooters” - Tampon Tim Walz
(Score: 2) by RandomFactor on Monday December 17 2018, @08:39PM
Heh, ok, but really, you can find a community identifying as most ANYTHING there :-P
В «Правде» нет известий, в «Известиях» нет правды
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Monday December 17 2018, @06:59AM (1 child)
Fun fact. Back when the Space Shuttle was being developed there was a serious suggestion that the external tank (huge one between the side boosters) could be carried into orbit instead of being released and burning up. With a few small design changes, like adding an external hatchway, making two of the internal bulkheads removable, and some extra mounting points on the outside, the tank could be re-purposed into modules for a space station. The amount of extra fuel needed to carry the tank into orbit was well with in the capacity of the maneuvering engines, unless the shuttle was at max capacity, which almost never happened.
Sadly the idea was not implemented. Given the number of times the Shuttle went up effectively empty the ISS would have been several time bigger than it is and a lot roomier.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 17 2018, @04:22PM
Wasn't the first time it was considered, either. There was the whole wet/dry workshop stuff with the Saturn upper stages.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 16 2018, @10:18PM
"India is the only country in the world that is working on this new technology"
They want Skylab back
(Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Monday December 17 2018, @12:06AM
Is India’s ISRO the most successful Space Agency after NASA? [youtube.com] (8m29s)
SpaceX Vs. Blue Origin Vs. ISRO, Who will dominate the Future of Space? [youtube.com] (10m2s)
A couple of videos about ISRO. Most here probably know about them due to their cheap Mars mission, but it turns out that they are doing very well with the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. ISRO may be more interesting than China's CNSA.
And while SpaceX's recent launch of 64 satellites on a single rocket was impressive, India has the world record with 104 [bbc.com].
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Monday December 17 2018, @01:39AM (1 child)
They could have even had indoor parking for the Soyuz capsules.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 17 2018, @06:34PM
So you can drill holes and play whodunnit without anyone having to suit up and go outside?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 17 2018, @08:08AM
India-StandingRoomOnly?