India to design, build reusable rocket for global market: ISRO
Bengaluru, Sep 5: India has plans to design and build a new reusable rocket for the global market that would significantly cut the cost of launching satellites, a top government official said on Monday.
"...all of us want launches to be much cheaper than what we do today," Secretary in the Department of Space and Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) S Somanath said.
Addressing the seventh 'Bengaluru Space Expo 2022' and later talking to reporters, he noted that at present it takes about USD 10,000 to USD 15,000 to put a one-kg payload into orbit.
"We have to bring it down to USD 5,000 or even USD 1,000 per kg. Only way to do that is to make the rocket reusable. Today in India we don't have reusable technology yet in launch vehicles (rockets)," Somanath said.
"So, the idea is the next rocket that we are going to build after GSLV Mk III should be a reusable rocket," he added at the inaugural session of the international conference and exhibition.
ISRO, Somanath said, has been working on various technologies, including the one demonstrated with Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD), last week. "We will have to have a retro-propulsion to land it (rocket back on earth)".
Combining these technologies, ISRO would like to design and build a new rocket which will be reusable, in partnership with industry, startups and its commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
"This is the idea and we are working on that idea. That idea cannot be ISRO's alone. It has to be an industry's idea. So, we will have to work with them in designing a new rocket, not only designing it, engineering it, manufacturing it and launching it as a commercial product and operating it in a commercial manner," he said.
"So, it's a big shift from what we do today," he pointed out. "I would like to see this (proposal) taking shape in the next few months."
"We would like to see such a rocket, a rocket which will be competitive-enough, a rocket that will be cost-conscious, production-friendly which will be built in India but operated globally for the services of the space sector. This should happen in the next few years so that we can retire all those operating launch vehicles (in India) at appropriate time," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
We can dismiss DGP Ramachandra Rao after inquiry: Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said that the government has acted swiftly by suspending DGP K Ramachandra Rao after a video showing him in compromising position with women has gone viral.
Saying that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident, the minister asserted that further action will be taken based on the findings of the probe. "He can be dismissed as well," he added.
News channels beamed a video on Monday purportedly showing Rao in a compromising position with women. The video has gone viral in social media.
Rao sought to reject the videos outright, terming them "fabricated and false".
Government placed Rao under suspension with immediate effect, citing conduct unbecoming of a government servant and violation of service rules, pending a detailed inquiry.
ALSO READ: Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao suspended after obscene video goes viral
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara said the suspension was an immediate measure necessitated by the seriousness of the matter.
"We have suspended him. An inquiry will follow. After the inquiry, we will get to know the other dimensions as well. We will take next action accordingly," he said.
Referring to reports that the suspended officer had sought to meet him, the minister said he had consciously avoided any interaction.
"In such a situation one has to be cautious. Hence, I didn't meet him," Parameshwara said.
On the BJP's demand for the arrest of the officer, the minister indicated that the government has not ruled out stricter action in the future.
"The future course of action will be different. He can be dismissed as well," he said, adding that the government did not hesitate to act despite the officer's seniority.
"Since we had to take immediate action, we have placed him under suspension without considering the fact that he is a senior officer. Based on the inquiry report, we will take next course of action," he said.
Responding to a query, minister said, "I don't have any information on the complainant. I don't know anything in this case other than what is prima facie available."
"This incident has caused embarrassment to the department. Such incidents are a matter of shame for not only the police department but also other departments," he said.
"CM Siddaramaiah and myself are deeply disturbed by this incident. Since this relates to my department, it doesn't seem good to me," he said.
