Flying high: Shar set to instal hi-tech radar next year
Aimed at future space programmes like manned mission to moon; project costs Rs 260 crore
Nellore: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shar, located at Sriharikota in SPSR Nellore district is all set to instal Multi Object Tracking Radar (MOTR) at the site before the first quarter of next year. It is one of the most advanced facilities being established at Shar for future space programmes, such as manned mission to moon.
Conventional radars are designed to track one object but the MOTR is designed to track at least 10 objects simultaneously from a distance of 1,000 km. It is also used in tracking the path of satellites in various stages besides keeping an eye on the space debris, which are a threat to satellites.
MOTR will contribute to range safety, impact point monitoring, recovery and re-entry missions. Only a few countries such as Israel, France and USA have such advanced technology. The Isro has developed totally indigenous technology for the project, which is estimated to cost Rs 260 crore. Shar’s director Dr M.Y.S. Prasad has played a key role in the design of MOTR with the assistance of 100 Isro engineers and the project director Seshagiri Rao.
“Indian industry was also involved in the project. The project will be ready by the first quarter of 2015. All the critical components and software are being developed in Shar,” said Dr Prasad.
He added, work is in progress with respect to second Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Shar. It takes three months to assemble each vehicle and this is restricting the launchings to four per annum.
The second VAB, which will be linked to the second launch pad, would facilitate and augment the launchings to eight per annum, since two vehicles can be assembled simultaneously in the two VABs. This Rs 350-crore estimated project has been approved and the design is in progress. The second VAB will be housed in a 100- metre tall building equipped with cranes with a capacity to lift 400 tonnes.
Although all kinds of vehicles can be assembled in the proposed facility, the design is tailor-made for GSLV Mk III and it is expected to be ready by 2017.
Plans are afoot to set up a third launch pad suitable for manned mission. A team has been appointed to work on the design and submit report in three months.
The project is expected to be ready by 2020 and it will cost between Rs 700 crore to Rs 800 crore, Dr Prasad said.
