Conference 7.286::space

    	That is unfortunate - I truly admire how such a "little" (compared
    to the United States and the Soviet Union) country can actually
    build and launch their own satellites and rockets.
    
    	Larry
    

    I doubt it will stop them. Anyone who expects a new launch vehicle
    to work first time deserves whatever happens to them. It IS nice
    to see a country succeeeding in space when they do not have a nuclear
    weapons program to back it up (I don't know if India has nukes,
    but I have not seen anything to suggest that they are developing
    missiles for delivering nukes.)
    
    gary

    India's goal is to launch some sacred cows into orbit.  They wish
    to have the first "herd shot 'round the world."
    
    Urp.
    

Re .2:

I thought that India was the 6th nuclear power.  Anyone from Pakistan would
probably be able to confirm or refute this.
				/AHM

    re .4
    
    Whether India does or does not have nukes is not relevant to my
    comment in .2. The point I was trying to make was that the first space
    faring nations (USSR, US, UK, France) got there by using hardware
    developed to support their respective nuclear weapons programs.
    
    The Indian, Japanese and ESA programs are probably the only ones using
    hardware not directly derived from weapon systems (if you go back far
    enough, you can trace parts of the Indian and Japanese programs to US
    weapon systems; not sure about Ariane). 
    
    gary

Re .5:

Perhaps you might consider the question of whether their hardware is
suitable for delivering nuclear weapons.  If I had to pick one person I
knew to make the evaluation, it's you.
				/AHM

    re .6
    
    In its current form, I'd say not. But since it is a clone of the
    Scout D and given the Scout's heritage I think it would be possible
    to build an MRBM type delivery system from the first two stages.
    It would be something like a smaller Pershing. It would require
    a significant amount of work.
    
    gary

    Since the velocity requirements for low earth orbit are very similar to
    those of a minimum energy trajectory to deliver a warhead across
    a distance approx 25% of the earh's circumference (i.e. ICBM range)
    you can make a quick estimate of the Indian SLV-3 as an ICBM.
    
    The SLV-3 can deliver 80lb to LEO. The only US warhead that comes in
    under that is the W54-2 Davy Crockett warhead at 58.6lb. Assuming
    that a reentry vehicle could be built in the remaining 20lb or so,
    that gives a throw weight of approx 0.25 kilotons. Not very useful
    as a weapon.
    
    Random aside... the W54 was also built for use as a demolition
    munition, in which case its delivery system is listed as 'backpack
    carried by single soldier'. I guess they don't trust married soldiers
    :-) ?
    
    gary

    Re Herds around the world - Hah! HaH!
    
    1. The Wind tunnel in use at Virginia Tech (VA, USA) is better than
    	the one at the NAL (National Aeronautics Lab); in fact I was
    	there when they were conducting preliminary tests on the ASLV.
    2. The Computer facilities were bad - but they are expanding at
    	a very rapid pace.
    3. The Indian approach - I think- is SLV -> ASLV -> PSLV.
    4. Maybe I should not be saying this, but don't think that there
    	aren't people working on missile capabilities in India!!!
    	If you are really interested, track where the rocket design
    	engineers of the SLV are right now and what they are working
    	on!!!
    5. If a nuclear delivery system is needed, then the targets would
    	logically be (hey! I am just rationalising - not planning an
    	attack!) Pakisthan and maybe China. Isn't a Jaguar (not XJ6!!!)
    	DPSA capable of delivering nuke bombs?
    6. Indian priorities have shifted remarkably:
    	1960s - Nuclear program - Atomic Energy Agency
    	1970s - Space program   - ISRO
    	1980s - Defence programs- mainly the DRDO 
             
    Regards nuclear weapons & missiles-
    	while they are not as sophisticated or advanced, research is
    being conducted. For a very brief period in 1977-79, a new govt
    almost brought to a halt all such R&D and things are recovering
    only now.
    	And Indian agencies - while not leakproof! - are extremely 
    paranoid and secretive. Remember, the 'peaceful explosion' in
    May 1974 was a surprise!!
    
    -parthi	
                

Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Cashew nut heat shield on Indian satellite.
Posted: 8 Dec 87 14:23:24 GMT
Organization: The ARPA Internet
 
      Taken from the LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH newspaper August 12, 1987:
 
      "Spacecraft Heat Shield is Nuts"
 
      India is to be the first nation to launch a spaceship composed
   partly of vegetable matter. 
 
      The heat shields of future spacecraft, which prevent the vehicle
   from burning up when it re-enters the atmosphere, are to be made 
   from cashew nuts, Mr. Karthik Narayanan, Minister for Science and
   Technology, told Parliament. 
 
      He said a heat-resistant resin based on liquid extracted from
   cashew nut shells had been developed by the Regional Research
   Laboratory in Kerala, the country's largest cashew nut producer. 
   It was well-suited for heat shields. 
 
      The evergreen cashew trees, already used for making hard wood
   products like crates, grow in profusion on India's coastlines,
   although they are not native to the country.  They were brought there
   from South America in the 15th Century by missionaries. 
 
      Scientists in Britain said yesterday that the idea was not as
   eccentric as it might sound.  Wood can be hardened until it is strong
   as steel. 
 
      A Kew Gardens spokesman said 'This particular resin is very tough.
   It is used for such things as tanning and preserving fishing nets and
   preserving wood from termite attacks.' 
 
      This is the first time vegetable matter has been used for the
   exterior of a spaceship.  All American and Soviet spacecraft (as far
   as it is known) use exotic metals and ceramics. 
 
      Only in the interior, in furniture fittings and in spacesuits is
   'natural' material used" 
 
      Anyone care to comment?  Is this the answer to all the heat tile
   problems of the US Space Shuttle?! 
 
      Chris Thompson, SBD-E, Rank Xerox
      Answer to:  [email protected]

    RE: .10
    
    Be sure to use only *ORGANIC* cashews.  :-)
    

    Oh no!
    	Already the cost of dry roasted cashews was too high. And now
    the cashews will be diverted to ISRO folks. Maybe I should join
    ISRO...	8^)
    
    On a more serious note, is this a feasible approach? Or was the
    Minister looking for some sensational news? I know India has/had
    problems in procuring Titanium (thanks to US and British efforts
    to cut off the supply!) for its LCA project; maybe they are running
    into the same problems and are getting desperate.
    
    -parthi

From: [email protected] (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Cashew nut heat shield - India was not the first
Summary: Ablative heat shields for re-entry vehicles...
Date: 10 Dec 87 21:26:33 GMT
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
 
    In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Jay
Freeman) writes: 

> I seem to recall that wood was occasionally used for structure in
> some of the early (pre-SPUTNIK) research rockets.  I believe that
> the U. S. VIKING (single-stage, vintage early 1950s, antecedent
> of the first stage of the VANGUARD satellite launch vehicle) was
> one such.  Perhaps the first stage of VANGUARD also used wood.
 
    Speaking as both an engineer and chemist, the use of organic
material for a heat shield does not surprise me.  Such organic
material would provide ablative shielding.  As it was heated and
underwent combustion, it would form carbon (i.e., like charcoal); such
carbon has great insulating capabilitity before it, too would undergo
complete combustion. 

    Heat energy as produced by air friction can be prevented from
entering the interior of a space vehicle through: (1) insulation, (2)
absorption by physical means, or (3) consumption through chemical
reaction.  It would appear that the use of an organic heat shield is
somewhat unusual in that it combines all three of the above.  There
may even be a fourth method involving heat reflection as caused by the
formation of an intermediate carbon layer during what is a "layered"
combustion process, but I don't know enough about the mechanisms
involved to speculate in more detail. 

    I have no idea what the practical design trade-offs are with
respect to the above three methods. 
 
<>  Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York
<>  UUCP:  {allegra|ames|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<>  VOICE: 716/688-1231        {hplabs|ihnp4|mtune|utzoo|uunet}!/
<>  FAX:   716/741-9635 {G1,G2,G3 modes}   "Have you hugged your cat today?" 

From: [email protected] (David Palmer)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Cashew nut heat shield
Date: 8 Dec 87 19:37:11 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology
 
    In article <871208-062406-4560@Xerox> [email protected] writes:

>"SPACECRAFT HEAT SHIELD IS NUTS
>
>India is to be the first nation to launch a spaceship composed partly of
>vegetable matter.
 
    According to an Aviation Week of ~3 months ago, China is using oak
wood for a heat shield for some of its spacecraft.  I don't know
whether any of these have been launched. 
 
		David Palmer
		[email protected]
		...rutgers!cit-vax!tybalt.caltech.edu!palmer
	The opinions expressed are those of an 8000 year old Atlantuan
	priestess named Mrla, and not necessarily those of her channel.

From: [email protected] (Glenn Chapman)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re:Cashew nut heat shield - India was not the first
Date: 9 Dec 87 15:11:01 GMT
 
    In SPACE digest v8, no. 71 Chris Thompson quoted the London Daily
Telegraph's story about the use by India of cashew nuts in heat
shields.   The article contained the quote: 
 
>This is the first time vegetable matter has been used for the exterior
>of a spaceship. All American and Russian spacecraft (as far as it is
>known) use exotic metals and ceramics.
 
    While the Indians are to be complemented on their innovative use
of materials at hand, unfortunately the press report could not be more
wrong.  The USSR's original VOSTOK 1 craft that launched Yuri Gagarin
in April 1961 used a heat shield made from hard wood particles (Oak if
I recall correctly) in an composite epoxy.  The spherical surface was
tiled in hexagonal shaped patterns with this.  Since several test craft
preceded this, flights with wood based shields probably go back to
1959-60.  Indeed several of their photo return craft and other short
duration vehicles still use the VOSTOK capsule design.  I do not know
if the heat shield has stayed the same, but if so that means plant
matter based heat shields have been used for about 29 years in space. 
 
                                                   Glenn Chapman
                                                   MIT Lincoln Lab

From: [email protected] (John Pantone)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Cashew nut heat shield
Summary: Japan used wood (??)
Date: 9 Dec 87 17:50:36 GMT
Organization: G.E.- Calma R&D, San Diego, CA
 
    Chris_Thompson writes:

>Taken from the London Daily Telegraph 8/12/87
>
>"SPACECRAFT HEAT SHIELD IS NUTS
>
>India is to be the first nation to launch a spaceship composed partly of
>vegetable matter.  
>...omission...  
>He said a heat-resistant resin based on liquid extracted from cashew nut
>shells had been developed by the Regional Research Laboratory in Kerala, the
>country's largest cashew nut producer. It was well suited for heat shields.
>...omission...
>This is the first time vegetable matter has been used for the exterior of a
>spaceship. All American and Russian spacecraft (as far as it is known) use
>exotic metals and ceramics.
>...omission...
>Anyone care to comment? Is this the answer to all the heat tile problems of
>the shuttle?!
 
    Didn't (don't) the Japanese use Oak re-entry shields on their
recoverable satellites?  It may not be the Japanese, but I did hear
of such a thing recently on the net. 
 
    The only reason I can think of for NOT using wood and/or organics
is that they "seem low-tech" and we tend not to want to use anything
but the newest high-tech stuff. (Even to the extent that we re-invent
technology over and over again - instead of (like the Soviets) using
previously developed systems in new and innovative ways :-( ) 
 
These opinions are solely mine and in no way reflect those of my employer.  
John M. Pantone @ GE/Calma R&D, Data Management Group, San Diego
...{ucbvax|decvax}!sdcsvax!calmasd!jnp          [email protected]

From: [email protected] (ERCF08 Bob Gray)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: IN ORBIT 7th Feb.
Date: 9 Feb 88 12:49:10 GMT
Organization: I.T. School, Univ. of Edinburgh, U.K
    
    Item from "IN ORBIT" of 7th February.
 
    IN ORBIT is Channel 4's ORACLE service weekly space news pages.
 
    For thise who can get C4, it can be found on p618 on
Saturday and Sunday. I only occasionaly reproduce articles
I think could be interesting to a wider audience.
 
    The articles were written by Dr David Whitehead.
    
    	Bob.
-----------------------------------------------------------
 
    India's IRS1a satellite has arrived at the USSR's Baukonur
Cosmodrome to begin a test period before a PROTON rocket
puts it into space in mid-March.
 
    India also hopes to test its ASLV rocket to orbit a
satellite in March or April.  Last year it failed just one
minute into its maiden flight.
                              
    Japan's CS3a domestic communications satellite is due to be
launched from the Tanegashima complex sometime on or after
February 16. It will be launched by a H1 rocket.
    

Extracted from USENET:s.c.i (without permission!):

The primary scientist in charge of this missile development is the same
person who was behind the development of the SLV, I believe!

-parthi

******************************************************************************** 
INDIA BECOMES FIFTH NATION TO FIRE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE 
 
INDIA MISSILE  
 
NEW DELHI, India (FEB. 25) UPI - Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said India  today
fired a surface-to-surface missile developed in his country, making it the
fifth nation in the world to produce such a weapon.  
 
Gandhi received a standing ovation in Parliament when he announced the test
launch of the Prithvi class missile from Sriharikota Space Center in Andhra
Pradesh state, 1,020 miles south of New Delhi.  
 
He said the projectile flawlessly completed a 150-mile flight and plunged into
the Bay of Bengal, making India the fifth nation after the United States, the
Soviet Union, China and France to have developed such a weapon. 
 
"There was no foreign know-how or colloboration involved," said Gandhi. "This
is an important technological achievement."  
 
India is in the midst of its largest ever military build-up to meet a perceived
threat from neighbors Pakistan and China and, experts say, to bolster its
position as a regional superpower of 780 million people.  
 
India detonated a nuclear device in 1974, but denies it owns any nuclear
weapons. Defense experts said the missile could be used as a nuclear delivery
re capable of delivering "large
payloads and warheads which could inflict heavy damage on enemy targets."  
 
 
 
 
-- 
Patt Haring                 {sun!hoptoad,cmcl2!phri}!dasys1!patth
Big Electric Cat Public Access Unix (212) 879-9031 - System Operator

From: [email protected] (ERCF08 Bob Gray)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: IN ORBIT 20th March 
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 21 Mar 88 16:23:56 GMT
References: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected] (ERCF08 Bob Gray)
Organization: I.T. School, Univ. of Edinburgh, U.K.
Lines: 73
 
    Last Thursday [17th March] the USSR launched it's first satellite
for a fee-paying customer, India's IRAS 1A Earth observation
satellite. The launch was with the aging Vostok rocket (essentially
the same one that launched Yuri Gagarin in 1961) from Baikonur. 
  
    Launch conditions were atrocious with only the red glare of the
rockets visible through a snow blizzard as it blasted off in the early
hours of Thursday morning [that is what you call confidence in your
technology].  It was watched by a team of 45 Indian technicians, the
Indian ambassador to the USSR and foreign news media. 
 
    India is paying only $4 million for the launch - the cost to
anyone else in the future will be nearer $20 million which is still
not far off half the price for an Ariane launch or one on a US rocket
(Commercial satellites will no longer be launched from the shuttle). 
 
    The USSR has launched three small satellites for India free of
charge before, so India did not seek bids from other countries to
launch this satellite. Nevertheless, nobody could undercut the Soviets. 
 
    The USA has banned any satellite containing parts made in the USA
from being launched by the USSR. Most satellites contain lots of parts
made in the USA.  The reason for the ban by America is, they say,
because they don't want the USSR to obtain any secrets about Western
technology.  However, most observers think they are protecting their
own rockets from the effects of much cheaper foreign competitors. 

    JAPAN has turned down a Indian request for the transfer of technology
    for design/manufacture of cryogenic engines. India will have to
    proceed with 'solid' engines. 
    
    Apparently the Japanese *are* willing to transfer the technology,
    but are bound by an international treaty. Such Engines can be
    used for long-range missiles.
    
    I am not familiar with the differences, other than that the liquid
    propellant [ Hydrogen/Oxygen ?] is more powerful/efficient. Is this
    likely to be a big set back ?  Will the indigenous design of an
    cryogenic engine be difficult without outside help ?
    
    _Brij.

Re: .-1

Any sort of engine can be used for long range missiles.  Most of the US
strategic missiles (Minuteman, MX, Trident) use solids.  They are better
than liquid propellant missiles because they are always ready to fire. 

Hydrogen/Oxygen is more efficient, and more powerful for a given weight of
fuel/oxidizer.

Development of any technology is always easier if you have outside help.
    
jb

    Japan may still be bound by some strange treaties left over from
    WWII, although McDonnell Douglas tried to buy the LH2 upper stage
    from the Japanese H-1 ELV (LE-5, I think). The Japanese refused
    as McDD could use it for weapons related development, so maybe that
    is Japan's policy?
    
    India could probably purchase the technology from other countries.
    LH2 engines/stages are more difficult than RP-1/LOX or UDMH/N2O4
    type engines. LH2 engines are not really practical for weapon systems.
    
    gary

The Indian missile program will be based on solid fuel rockets. Thsi decision
was made several years ago and work is already progressing on a solid fuel
rocket plant in south-eastern TamilNadu.

I'd suspect that the search for the liquid fuel engines was for ISRO's plans
beyond the PSLV. But they've still got to get the PSLV going first.

And finally, the missile effort and the space effort have already been
bifurcated, with the man who led the development of the SLV having moved
to Hyderabad to lead the missile design effort.


-parthi

From: [email protected] (WILLIAM HARWOOD, UPI Science Writer)
Newsgroups: clari.tw.space,clari.news.aviation,clari.news.urgent
Subject: Hard-luck Indian satellite finally in orbit.
Date: 12 Jun 90 09:33:35 GMT

	CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (UPI) -- An $80 million Indian
communications satellite that survived a $10 million launch pad mishap
and last year's San Francisco earthquake finally made it into orbit
Tuesday after a flawless nighttime flight atop a Delta rocket. 

	By the light of the waning Moon, the slender $50 million
Delta, equipped with nine strap-on solid-fuel boosters for extra
takeoff power, thundered to life on time at 1:52 a.m EDT and quickly
climbed away from launch complex 17 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station. 

	Lighting up the night sky with a burst of flame visible for
miles around, the commercially-built rocket passed directly in front
of the Moon as viewed from a nearby press site, a spectacular prelude
to a flawless climb to space. 

	About 24 minutes after liftoff, the Delta's solid-fuel
third-stage rocket motor successfully fired, boosting the
solar-powered satellite into a safe preliminary orbit. About 1 1/2
hours after that, INSAT-1D was gently kicked away from the spent
rocket stage in a critical milestone. 

	``We had a successful separation shortly after 3 o'clock this
morning,'' said a spokeswoman for rocket-builder McDonnell Douglas
Space Systems Co. of Huntington Beach, Calif. ``Everything looks good.'' 

	Abid Hussain, India's ambassador to the United States, said
Monday the launch of INSAT-1D marked a major milestone for India's
goal of bringing education, science and industry to rural towns and
villages. 

	``Its advantages to us are many,'' he said of the
sophisticated relay station. ``We in India believe science and
technology can be put into the service of the people, especially those
people who have been so far deprived of some of the advantages of
(modern communications).'' 

	If all goes well, on-board rocket firings over the next 10
days will boost the spacecraft, the fourth in a series of Indian
communications stations, into a circular orbit 22,300 miles above the
equator where it can provide uninterrupted service over its planned
seven-year lifetime. 

	Built by Ford Aerospace of Palo Alto, Calif., INSAT-1D will
replace an identical but aging satellite already in orbit to provide
telephone, television and weather forecasting service to India.  Two
other INSAT relay stations are no longer operational. 

	Launch originally was scheduled for last June, but just 10
days before takeoff, a frayed cable snapped and a 75-pound hook on a
launch pad crane fell onto the satellite's ``C-band'' radio antenna. 

	As a result, the spacecraft had to be removed from its Delta
booster and shipped back to the factory in Palo Alto for extensive
repairs that cost some $10 million, according to Fred Stang, an
official with Ford Aerospace. 

	Stang said insurance covered the cost of the repairs, along
with another $150,000 in damage caused during the San Francisco
earthquake last October when several solar cells were broken. The
repair work pushed the total value of the satellite to some $80
million. 

	India's Department of Space bought insurance to cover the
satellite from the moment of launch through orbital checkout. 

	Once checked out and in operation, INSAT-1D will provide data
and voice communications between 31 ground stations in India and
provide high-power direct broadcast television signals to thousands of
low-cost TV, radio and disaster warning devices across the nation. 

	``In India, we've got 800 million people,'' Hussain said. ``A
large majority of them are still not exposed to education.  Through
this new satellite we would like to spread education and knowledge,
science and new culture to hundreds of thousands of those who have
been out of the mainstream of life.'' 

	The multi-purpose satellite also will be used to monitor
weather patterns to improve forecasting and to relay meteorological
data to various ground stations for analysis. 

	INSAT-1D is equipped with 12 high frequency transponders, each
one capable of handling 1,000 one-way voice or data channels or one
television signal. Direct broadcast television signals will be beamed
down to more than 100,000 receive-only ground terminals, most in rural
areas. 

Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: NASA Headline News for 06/14/90 (Forwarded)
Date: 14 Jun 90 20:30:28 GMT
Reply-To: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, June 14, 1990              Audio Service:  202/755-1788
-----------------------------------------------------------------
 
This is NASA Headline News for Thursday, June 14:
 
The Indian Space Research Organization has submitted a proposal to
INMARSAT for the construction of that organization's third generation
communication satellites, according to Space Fax Daily.  The Daily
said the latest issue of "Space India" reports the contractor for the
multi-million dollar INMARSAT-3 satellite contract is expected to be
selected by the end of this year.  The 58-member INMARSAT organization
now provides satellite communications for land, sea, and air.  
--------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA 
Select TV.  All times are Eastern.
  
    Tuesday, June 19:
 
          12:00-2:00 P.M.     NASA Video Productions 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
All events and times are subject to change without notice.  These 
reports are filed daily, Monday through Friday, at 12:00 P.M. 
EDT.  This is a service of the Internal Communications Branch, 
NASA HQ.  Contact: JSTANHOPE or CREDMOND on NASAmail or at 
202/453-8425.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
NASA Select TV:  Satcom F2R, Transponder 13, C-Band 72 Degrees 
West Longitude, Audio 6.8, Frequency 3960 MHz.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Article: 1879
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.military
Subject: Russia firm on supplying rocket technology
Date: Tue, 5 May 92 7:50:47 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- Russia plans to stand by its plan to
transfer rocket technology to India despite a threat of sanctions by
the United States, Russian officials said Tuesday. 

	``Russia's stand remains adamant,'' Gennady Burbulis, Russian
state secretary and presidential aide said in the Indian capital after
agreeing to sell technology that U.S. officials fear could be used for
nuclear missiles in violation of an international accord. 

	Burbulis said scrutiny of the deal by international neutral
experts ``will allow us to dismiss all questions, no matter who asks them.'' 

	``All possible arguments in favor of the agreement have been
explained,'' Burbulis said. ``We are going to conform to our obligations.'' 

	In Moscow, meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman
Sergei Yastrzhembsky commented, ``The international community, which
has voiced concern, will have its worries alleviated. 

	``Regarding the sanctions, the statement has been communicated
to us, but to the best of my knowledge no formal request has yet been
received to date on the well-known deal between Moscow and Delhi.'' 

	He said Russia was willing to subject the deal to review by
expperts to ``prove that this agreement is in no way aimed at
undermining the (missile) technology non-proliferation regime.'' 

	Washington has objected to the deal, saying the rockets could
be used to power nuclear missiles and that the deal is ``inconsistent'' 
with the Missile Technology Control Regime, an international treaty 
which seeks to limit weapons proliferation. 

	India has not signed the treaty. But the 1991 U.S. Defense
Authorization Act calls for penalties to be levied against violators
of the treaty. 

	After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia assumed
responsibility for most Soviet agencies and agreements and followed up
the Indian deal, said to be worth tens of millions of dollars to the
struggling Russian economy. 

	India tested a nuclear device in 1974 but refrained from further 
explosions. India claims its nuclear program is for peaceful use. 

	Burbulis said Russian President Boris Yelstin would visit
India later this year during which the two countries would sign
friendship treaty. 

	India and the Soviet Union signed a treaty of friendship in
1971, leading to a close economic and defense cooperation. 

	India also plans to purchase over the next two years $335
million of military equipment from American contractors and the U.S.
government.  Bush administration officials said the sales include such
items as ``spare parts and engines,'' but no ``major weapons systems.'' 

	The cryogenic rocket engines India wants to buy from Russia
will be used to lift geosynchronous, or fixed, satellites into space,
according to Indian diplomats in Washington. 

Article: 1925
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.military
Subject: Lawmakers slam Washington for ban against Indian space agency
Date: Tue, 12 May 92 9:55:21 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- Members of Parliament slammed the
United States Tuesday for imposing sanctions against Indian and
Russian space agencies as a result of Moscow's sale of rocket engines
to New Delhi. 

	Opposition lawmakers urged the government in expressing
displeasure over the ban by aborting proposed joint naval exercises
between the two countries. 

	Margaret Alva, minister of state for personnel, said the
government received official information on U.S. ban early Tuesday and
said the government of Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao had to study
the impact of the ban. 

	But India would take steps to ``protect national honor and
dignity and freedom of choice in our space program'', said the minister. 

	Opposition lawmakers, unhappy with Alva's reply, demanded the
government to tell Parliament what action New Delhi plans to take. 

	The two-year ban imposed on Monday by Washington will prevent
U.S. companies from trading equipment or technology to the Indian
Space Research Organization and the Russian space agency Glavkosmos. 

	``The decision has certainly generated misunderstanding in
Parliament and elsehwere about the U.S. policy perceptions towards
India and to that extent it is an avoidable irritant in our bilateral
relations,'' said a Foreign Ministry spokesman. 

	The United States has expressed opposition to a 1989 agreement
for the sale of cryogenic rocket engines to India. 

	Washington claims the Missile Technology Control Regime, to
which neither India nor Russia are a party, bans the sale of missile
systems capable of carrying an 1,100 pound payload a minimum distance
of 190 miles. 

	The United States claims the deal is inconsistent with the
guidelines and fears the knowhow could be used to build weapons systems. 

	India says the technology will be used to put satellites in space. 
India exploded a nuclear device in 1974, but refrained from further tests. 
New Delhi claims its nuclear program is for peaceful uses. 

	Washington wants India to sign the treaty, which New Delhi
claims is discriminatory. 

	State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Monday the
United States would consider a waiver of sanctions if the rocket deal
were terminated. 

Article: 2378
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.tw.space
Subject: Russia says U.S. trying to keep it from space market
Date: Wed, 13 May 92 10:43:08 PDT
 
	MOSCOW (UPI) -- Russian officials charged Wednesday that U.S.
sanctions against its space agency for selling rocket engines to India
were prompted by a desire to eliminate commercial competition rather
than concern about spreading military technology. 

	Both Russia and India have said they plan to go ahead with the
deal despite the U.S. decision to impose a two-year ban announced
Monday on dealings with the space agencies of the two countries. 

	The United States alleges Russia's sale of cyrogenic engines
to India for rockets designed to launch satellites violates the
international Missile Technology Control Regime -- which Russia has
not signed but says it abides by. 

	Russian space officials say the deal does not violate the MTCR
guidelines because the engines will not and could not be used for
military purposes, claiming the engines take too long to prepare for
launch to be practical for non-civilian use. 

	Last week the head of the Russian space agency Glavkosmos said
that the American company General Dynamics had bid on the same Indian
engine contract and lost, and other officials have complained the U.S.
sanctions are a form of unfair competitive pressure. 

	``This is a hidden attempt to liquidate the space industry of
Russia, which is quite competitive today on the world market,''
Nikolai Semyonov, head of the international department of Glavkosmos,
told the Russian state news agency Itar-Tass Wednesday. 

	The Russian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement Wednesday
criticizing the sanctions, and a presidential spokesman said they were
imposed despite an understanding on technology sales in a telephone
conversation Saturday between U.S. President George Bush and Russian
President Boris Yeltsin, Itar-Tass said. 

	Semyonov called the U.S. sanctions ``illegal and contrary to
legal norms'' and said Russia would welcome an independent investigation 
of whether the rocket engine deal violated international agreements. 

	The two-year ban will prevent U.S. companies from trading
equipment or technology with the Indian Space Research Organization
and the Russian space agency Glavkosmos. 

	In New Delhi, a senior Indian space official said Wednesday
commercial considerations prompted the United States the sanctions. 

	U.R. Rao, chairman of India's Space Commission, expressed the
hope that Washington would reconsider the ban. 

Article: 2415
From: [email protected] (T.S.K. LINGAM)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.tw.space,clari.news.military
Subject: India launches rocket, puts satellite into orbit
Date: Wed, 20 May 92 4:24:49 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- India Wednesday succesfully launched
its first rocket and placed a satellite into a low Earth orbit, the
Press Trust of India news agency said. 

	It was India's third atempt at putting a satellite into orbit.
Its two previous attempts in 1987 and 1988 failed. 

	Senior space officials watched the computer-controlled liftoff
of the augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) at the Sriharikota Space 
Center, 1,100 miles southeast of New Delhi in Andhra Pradesh state. 

	The pencil-shaped vehicle blasted off at 6:00 a.m. and
streaked across the Bay of Bengal. 

	The 75-foot craft reached its orbit altitude of 280 miles some
10 minutes after the launch and lobbed a 330-pound satellite above
Earth using a five-stage procedure. 

	The trajectory of the solid-fueled vehicle appeared firm and
its ascent steady, the news agency reported. 

	The satellite, which will orbit Earth every 92 minutes,
contains equipment to monitor the vehicle's performance, measure gamma
rays in outer space and perform various tests for the National Physical 
Laboratory. 

	India aims to develop rockets capable of placing satellites at
a geosynchronous orbit permanently above India. 

	That ambition has aroused the suspicions of the United States,
which has alleged certain technology could be used to develop
intercontinental ballistic missiles. 

	New Delhi denies the charge.  India exploded a nuclear device
in 1974, but since then, has refrained from further explosions. 

	Washington last week slapped a two-year ban against the Indian
Space Research Organization and Russia's Glavkosmos Space agency over
the Russian sale of a cryogenic rocket engine and technology to India.

	U. R. Rao, chairman of India's Space Commission, described the
launch as an important milestone. 

	``We are happy with the success, but it does not make us
complacent or overconfident,'' Rao said. 

	The most important thing about Wednesday's launch was ``proving 
the rocket and orbiting the satellite'', Rao told journalists. 

	``It is not a reply to anybody,'' said Rao when reporters
queried if the launch was a fitting reply to the sanctions imposed by
the United States. 

	The Indian Space Research Organization is tracking the movement 
through its stations at four places in India and another in Mauritius. 

    For the record this was not India's first rocket or it's first
    satellite. It was the first successful launch of the ASLV though.
    
    gary

    re .28
    
>at the Sriharikota Space Center
        ^^^^^^^^^^^
    
    Any linguists out there have a translation for the name?

Article: 2404
From: [email protected] (BRAHMA CHELLANEY)
Newsgroups: clari.news.hot.east_europe,clari.news.hot.ussr
Subject: India to get Russia rocket engines
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 92 6:18:45 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- Russia is proceeding with its $200 million
deal to supply sophisticated rocket engine technology to India despite
recent U.S. punitive sanctions, the head of the Indian space program said. 

	Indian Space Commission Chairman U. R. Rao, in a weekend speech
to the Indian Institute of Science, said Russia has renewed its commitment 
to supply two fully assembled cryogenic engines to India by 1995. 

	Moscow also is committed to training Indian space engineers in
cryogenic technology so that India could indigenously produce its
first such engine in 1996, Rao told the institute, located in the
southern Indian city of Bangalore. 

	The official text of the speech was made available Sunday in
New Delhi. 

	Last May, the United States imposed limited trade sanctions
against the Indian Space Research Organization and Russia's Glavkosmos
to discourage the two civilian space agencies from going ahead with
the deal. 

	Washington has argued that cryogenic engine technology can be
utilized by India in its ballistic missile program.  Indian scientists
in recent years have successfully test-fired five different ballistic
missile systems. 

	India contends the U.S. action is unfair because it says it
needs the 12-ton cryogenic engines to build powerful rocket boosters
to place the next generation of Indian weather and communications
satellites in orbit. 

	India, which surprised the world in 1980 by placing a
satellite in orbit, has an ambitious space program. 

	Trade in cryogenic technology is barred by the Missile
Technology Control Regime, a technology-control institution formed in
1985 by the Group of Seven leading industrial nations and publicly
unveiled two years later. 

	Membership of the MTCR has expanded in recent years, but
Russia and India remain outside its fold. 

	Rao said work already had begun on facilities to test
indigenously built cryogenic engines. 

	``Right from the beginning of our space program it was
understood that we have to develop self-reliance,'' Rao told the
prestigious research institute. 

	Rao reported that the four-stage Polar Satellite Launch
Vehicle, designed to place one-ton remote-sensing satellites in orbit,
will be launched next March. 

	The PSLV is a successor to the Augmented Satellite Launch
Vehicle, which was launched in May after several failures. 

	The cryogenic engine technology, however, is needed for the
much larger rocket, the Geostationary Launch Vehicle, whose planned
development by 1996 will give India an undisputed intercontinental
ballistic missilecapability. 

	The GSLV will carry 2.5-ton payloads using the cryogenic
technology, which combines liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to
provide much greater liftoff power to the launch vehicle. 

	The development of this powerful rocket, Rao said, will make
India self-reliant in space technology and enable it to compete in the
lucrative international space market. 

	India is one of the world's most advanced nations in satellite
technology but has lagged behind in rocket technology.  Analysts and
diplomats say the development of the PSLV and GSLV rockets will
provide a major boost to India's space program and significantly
advance its military capabilities. 

	The United States views the Indian space program with deep
concern because India, which has developed a formidable nuclear-weapons 
capability, could employ its civilian rocket technology to build nuclear-
capable ICBMs. 

	The Indian government earlier this month conceded in
Parliament that the U.S. sanctions could ``adversely affect'' some
Indian space projects.  It said its space agency was looking for new
sources of supply of space components. 

	The U.S. action imposed a two-year ban on all U.S.-licensed
exports to the Indian and Russian space agencies. 

Article: 2889
From: [email protected] (United Press International)
Newsgroups: clari.tw.space,clari.tw.health.aids,clari.news.military
Subject: Foreign News Briefs
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 13:12:53 PST
 
_I_n_d_i_a _s_u_c_c_e_s_s_f_u_l_l_y
_t_e_s_t_s _r_o_c_k_e_t _e_n_g_i_n_e_s 

	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- India announced Monday that its
scientists have successfully tested all four propulsion stages of a
powerful new rocket whose launch will boost the country's military
capabilities. 

	The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said the four
separate engine sets would now be fitted into the rocket, the Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), for its scheduled launch next March. 

	The PSLV, designed to place one-ton remote-sensing satellites
into orbit, is a successor to the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle
(ASLV), successfully launched last May after several abortive efforts.

	The PSLV is one of two powerful rockets that India is
developing on its own.  The other is the Geostationary Launch Vehicle
(GSLV), whose planned development by 1996 will give India an
undisputed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability. 

	The United States last May slapped limited trade sanctions
against ISRO and Russia's Glavkosmos to discourage the two civilian
space agencies from going ahead with a $200 million deal involving the
transfer of sophisticated engine technology for the GSLV. 

Article: 3957
From: [email protected] (BRAHMA CHELLANEY)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.military,clari.tw.science
Subject: India reports breakthrough in rocket technology
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 3:42:38 PST
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- India's space scientists said Tuesday they
successfully tested an air-breathing rocket, a technology that is at the
cutting edge of military modernization.

	Air-breathing propulsion technology can help develop powerful space-
launch vehicles and long-range ballistic missiles.

	The basic features of the air-breathing propulsion system named the
ABR-200 were tested successfully by firing two sounding rockets from the
Sriharikota launch site along the southeastern Indian coast, scientist
Manoranjan Rao reported.

	Rao, who heads the team working on air-breathing propulsion
technology at India's Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, said the ABR-200
achieved a maximum speed of 2.3 Mach during the trials.

	The Mach number indicated a speed of 2.3 times the speed of sound.

	Rao said further development work was necessary in that frontier
technology, which has been identified by the Pentagon as one of 20
technologies ``critical'' to long-term U.S. strategic interests. More
trials were planned to boost the rocket speed, he added.

	An air-breathing rocket can carry a much larger payload, such as a
warhead, by using oxygen from the atmosphere to achieve a targeted
thrust power. Conventional rockets are bulky because they need to carry
their own oxidizer stock to burn propellants, thus limiting payload
capability.

	There are three air-breathing propulsion technologies under
development in the world: Turbo, Ram and Scram. ABR-200 is based on the
principle of ejector Ram jet, according to Rao and his colleague,
Rajaram Nagappa.

	India is one of few countries in the country pursuing a broad-based
space program. Thirteen years ago, it surprised the international
community by placing a satellite into orbit.

	In recent years, Indian scientists have developed four separate
ballistic-missile systems, including the intermediate-range Agni, or
Fire, seen as an important component of India's efforts to build a
nuclear deterrent against China.

	The United States views the Indian space program with deep concern
because India, which has developed a formidable nuclear- weapons
capability, could employ its civilian rocket technology to build
nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.

	India's civilian space program currently is developing two powerful
space machines, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and
Geostationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

	The PSLV's maiden launch is scheduled for March. The planned
development of the GSLV by 1996 will give India an undisputed ICBM
capability.

	The air-breathing propulsion technology is being developed by the
Sarabhai Center for rockets in the next decade.

	Last May, the United States slapped limited trade sanctions against
the Indian Space Research Organization and Russia's Glavkosmos to
discourage the two civilian space agencies from going ahead with a $200
million deal involving the transfer of sophisticated engine technology
for the GSLV.

	Washington argued the cryogenic engine technology that India was
buying could be diverted to its ballistic missile program.

	India contended the U.S. action was unfair because it said it needed
the 12-ton cryogenic engines to build powerful rocket boosters to place
advanced weather and communications satellites in orbit.

	The cryogenic technology combines liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen
to provide much greater lift-off power to the launch vehicle.

Article: 1566
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.tw.aerospace,clari.tw.misc
Subject: India ready to launch powerful new space vehicle
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 93 7:28:59 PST
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- Indian scientists have completed simulated
trials of a powerful new space-launch vehicle, setting the stage for its
maiden flight next month, the country's space agency said Wednesday.

	The Indian Space Research Organization said the four-stage rocket,
the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, will place a one-ton remote-sensing
satellite in orbit on its first launch.

	Although the PSLV is part of India's broad-based civilian space
program, its development is seen as strengthening India's military
capabilities. The remote-sensing satellite that PSLV will put into orbit
will be useful to India for military reconnaissance.

	India also has a large ballistic-missile program, and its scientists
have developed five missile systems since 1987.

	During the full-scale trials, space scientists used computers and
remote control of propellant-filling operations to test all PSLV
systems, ISRO said.

	The trials were conducted at the Sriharikota site from where the
space vehicle will be launched. Sriharikota, India's main launch pad, is
close to the southern port city of Madras.

	The PSLV, which incorporates advanced liquid propulsion technology,
is a successor to the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle, successfully
launched last May after several abortive efforts.

	The PSLV is one of two powerful rockets that India is developing. The
other is the Geostationary Launch Vehicle, whose planned development by
1996 will give India an undisputed intercontinental ballistic missile
capability.

	According to the Indian government, the development of the PSLV and
GSLV will make India self-reliant in space technology and enable it to
compete in the multibillion-dollar international space market.

	India has the most advanced space program in the Third World. In
1980, it surprised the international community by placing a satellite in
orbit.

	The United States views the Indian space program with deep concern
because India, which has developed a formidable nuclear-weapons
capability, could employ its civilian rocket technology to build
nuclear-capable ICBMs.


Article: 2961
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.tw.space,clari.news.politics,clari.news.gov.international
Subject: Top Indian space official urges lifting of U.S. sanctions
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 93 10:34:48 PST
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- The head of India's space program,
claiming it was one of the most open in the world, urged the United
States Thursday to lift its nine-month-old sanctions. 

	``We have an absolutely clean record. Our program is one of
the most open programs round the world,'' the Press Trust of India
news agency quoted Space Commission Chairman U.R. Rao as saying. 

	Washington imposed limited trade sanctions last May for two years
against the Indian Space Research Organization and Russia's Glavkosmos
to discourage the two agencies from going ahead with a $200 million deal
involving the transfer of sophisticated rocket-engine technology.

	Rao reportedly said, ``We have never violated Missile Technology
Control Regime guidelines.''

	The Western-sponsored regime, publicly unveiled in 1987, seeks to
control exports of components and technologies that have dual
applications in civilian and military space industries. India and Russia
are not members but have pledged to adhere to its guidelines.

	Speaking to reporters at his headquarters in Bangalore, Rao said
there was ``nothing hidden'' in the Indian space program, which he
described as entirely civilian, according to PTI.

	India has a broad-based space program. Thirteen years ago, it
suprised the world by placing a satellite in orbit.

	Indian scientists now are trying to develop two powerful space-launch
vehicles which, according to Western experts, would boost the country's
military capabilities.

	The United States contends that the cryogenic engine technology that
India is to get from Moscow could be diverted by New Delhi to build
intercontinental ballistic missiles.

	Rao, however, argued that ``cryogenic technology had never been used,
and was not capable of being used, for a missile,'' according to PTI.

	The official reportedly admitted that the U.S. sanctions have had
some impact on India's space projects, but said his commission had
initiated steps to indigenously produce components that previously were
imported from the United States.

	Speaking about U.S. media reports that Washington may indefinitely
extend the sanctions, Rao urged the U.S. administration to try and
develop a ``better understanding'' of the issues involved, PTI reported.

	Washington reportedly was considering permanent sanctions following
Russian President Boris Yeltsin's statement in New Delhi last week that
Moscow would not bow to American pressure on the cryogenic technology deal.

	The technology combines liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen to provide
much greater lift-off power to the launch vehicle.

	India says it needs the 12-ton cryogenic engines to build powerful
rocket boosters to place advanced weather and telecommunications
satellites in orbit.

	Rao's statement was in sharp contrast to the remarks Monday of Indian
Science and Technology Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam, who declared
India was not afraid of permanent U.S. sanctions. ``Such action will not
affect us,'' the minister claimed.

	The United States views the Indian space program with deep concern
because India, which has developed a formidable nuclear-weapons
capability, could employ its civilian rocket technology to build
nuclear-capable ICBMs.

	In recent years, Indian scientists have successfully tested five
ballistic-missile systems, including the intermediate-range Agni.

Article: 2976
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.tw.space
Subject: India delays launch of powerful new rocket
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 93 7:15:18 PST
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- The Indian government announced
Thursday it was delaying the launch of a powerful new rocket that will
boost the country's military capabilities. 

	The rocket, known as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), was
scheduled to have been launched this spring after the Indian Space
Research Organization reported last December successfully testing all
four of its propulsion stages.

	A government statement in Parliament in response to a question by a
lawmaker said the PSLV would be launched ``in the second half of 1993.''
The statement did not specify the exact launch date or explain the delay.

	The PSLV, designed to place one-ton remote-sensing satellites into
orbit, is a successor to the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV),
successfully launched last May after several abortive efforts.

	The PSLV is one of two powerful rockets that India is developing on
its own. The other is the Geostationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV), whose
planned development by 1996 will give India an undisputed
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability.

	The United States last May slapped limited trade sanctions against
ISRO and Russia's Glavkosmos to discourage the two civilian space
agencies from going ahead with a dlrs 200 million deal involving the
transfer of sophisticated engine technology for the GSLV.

	Washington has argued the cryogenic engine technology that India has
sought to buy can be diverted to its large ballistic-missile program.

	India contends the U.S. action is unfair because it says it needs the
12-ton cryogenic engines to build powerful rocket boosters to place the
next generation of Indian weather and communications satellites in orbit.

	The cryogenic technology combines liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen
to provide much greater lift-off power to the launch vehicle.

Article: 3016
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.tw.space,clari.news.top.world
Subject: Official suggests China, India cooperate in space market
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 93 9:24:09 PST
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- A senior Indian official suggested Thursday
that China and India ``merge their technological strengths'' and jointly
compete for contracts in the lucrative international space market.

	While India had demonstrated its capabilities in building advanced
satellites, China had powerful space-launch vehicles to place satellites
in orbit, Science and Technology Minister P.R. Kumaramanglam said.

	``Merging those capabilities could help the two countries become
powerful sellers in the international space technology market,'' the
minister told a two-day seminar on Chinese and Indian technologies.

	The seminar was organized by the federally funded National Research
and Development Corp. of New Delhi.

	India has a broad-based space program. Thirteen years ago, it
suprised the world by placing a satellite in orbit.

	Indian scientists now are trying to develop two powerful rockets to
place the next generation of weather and telecommunications satellites
in orbit. The development of the rockets would significantly boost
India's military capabilities.

	China already has entered the global space services market, winning a
major Australian satellite-launch contract.

	India officials say they plan to offer space-launch services to
foreign clients after they develop the two new rockets.

	China and India are arch-rivals. They fought a Himalayan war in 1962
and continue to deploy hundreds of thousands of troops along their
rugged frontier.

	The United States views the Indian space program with deep concern
because India, which demonstrated its nuclear-weapons capability in
1974, could employ its civilian rocket technology to build nuclear-
capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.

	Washington imposed limited trade sanctions in May 1992 against the
Indian Space Research Organization and Russia's Glavkosmos to discourage
the two civilian agencies from going ahead with a $200 million deal
involving the transfer of cryogenic-engine technology.

	Cryogenic technology combines liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen to
provide much greater lift-off power to a space-launch vehicle.

	The transfer of cryogenic technology is barred by the Western-
sponsored Missile Technology Control Regime.

	Publicly unveiled in 1987, the regime seeks to control exports of
components and technologies that have dual applications in civilian and
military space industries. India and Russia are not parties to the
agreement but have pledged to adhere to its guidelines.

Article: 3134
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.tw.space,clari.news.europe
Subject: Indian satellite ready for launch aboard European rocket
Date: Wed, 19 May 93 5:37:55 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- India has completed building a large
multipurpose satellite and is shipping it to French Guiana for its
launch aboard a European rocket, the space department said Wednesday.

	``The satellite is in excellent condition and ready for
transportation to French Guiana in a couple of days,'' a department
spokesman said.

	The satellite, Insat-2B, is scheduled to be placed into orbit
July 9 by the Ariane space vehicle from French Guiana, located along
the northeastern coast of South America. 

	Ariane, owned by a European consortium, Arianespace, also put
into orbit last July another major indigenously-built Indian satellite, 
Insat-2A. 

	Like Insat-2A, the new 4,193-pound satellite will be used for
telecommunications, broadcasting and meteorology. 

	India has a broad-based space program.  In 1980, India became
the seventh country in the world to successfully place a satellite in
orbit with its own space-launch vehicle. 

Article: 4179
From: [email protected] (SID BALMAN Jr.)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.usa,clari.news.gov.international
Subject: U.S. may concede Russian rocket sale to India
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 93 15:07:13 PDT
 
	 WASHINGTON (UPI) -- The administration may be willing to drop
objections over the sale of Russian rocket engines to India providing
specific steps are taken to prevent New Delhi from learning enough about
the technology to reproduce it, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

	Washington imposed trade sanctions on several Russian agencies but
delayed implementation until Thursday as a result of Moscow's refusal to
scotch a $400 million deal with India for rocket engines New Delhi says
will be used to launch satellites.

	The administration, however, says the sale violates missile control
treaties and the accompanying technology could give India the ability to
develop long-range ballistic weapons.

	But Washington may drop its objections if Undersecretary of State
Lynn Davis wins agreement from Russian space agency director Yuri
Koptev, who met at the State Department Wednesday, to somehow limit
India's access to technology behind the rockets, U.S. officials said.

	``The issue is not so much the devices, it's the technological know-
how that is a proliferation concern,'' State Department spokesman
Michael McCurry said.

	He declined to say how the two budding allies might work out the
question of technology transfer.

	But senior administration officials close to the negotiations
indicated that Washington's greatest concerns centered on such items as
manuals, training and assembly of the rocket engines.

	If Koptev is willing to address those issues in a way that satisfies
Davis, they said, Washington would be willing to forget about sanctions.

	``It's manuals, it's training, it's do you construct the rocket parts
in the presence of Indian engineers or do you do it in Russian and ship
it to India,'' a senior State Department official said under conditions
of anonymity.

	``How do you prevent the leakage of their ability to get the engines
to do certain things.''

	Vice President Al Gore cancelled a planned visit last month with
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin as a result of the rocket
deal. They were to discuss Russia's participation with the United States
in space exploration, a partnership that would bring sorely needed
foreign exchange for the cash-strapaped government in Moscow.

	The proposal to explore space together was offered as an incentive
for Russia to cancel the sale, officials said.

Article: 4184
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.usa,clari.news.gov.international
Subject: U.S and Russia cut a deal on Indian missiles
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 93 15:39:06 PDT
 
	WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Russia has struck a deal with the United States
that allows the sale of several rocket engines to India but limits the
transfer of associated technology the administration feared could be
used by New Delhi to develop long-range missiles, U.S. officials said
Friday.

	Undersecretary of State Lynn Davis and Russian Space Agency Director
Yuri Koptev agreed following three days of negotiations in Washington to
the broad outlines of an agreement, which will remove most trade
sanctions imposed on several government agencies involved in the
transaction, they said.

	In exchange, Davis said, Russia can ship ``a few'' of the engines for
India's satellite program but must limit transfer of the technology
behind it. U.S. officials were unsure what amount of the $400 million
deal would be preserved.

	As a form of compensation, Russia will be invited to participate in
space exploration for commercial purposes with the United States, which
U.S. officials estimate could bring Moscow ``billions'' in future revenue.

	``There will be work between Russians and Americans, under the
umbrella of NASA, to see what kind of cooperation makes sense,'' Davis
told reporters during a briefing on the negotiations.

	Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin is expected to discuss the
arrangement with Vice President Al Gore in Washington during the coming
weeks, U.S. officials said. A meeting had been planned last month but
cancelled as a result of the Indian rocket deal.

	State Department spokesman Michael McCurry said the agreement ``makes
an important contribution to the expanding partnership with Russia.''

	``It's an enormous achievement for the United States and Russia to
have reached this agreement and it really reflects the new relationship
that exists in this post-Cold War era,'' he said.

	Russia also agreed to guage the propriety of all missile sales
against the guidelines of the Missile Technology Control Regime, a
multilateral treaty that seeks to limit the proliferation of weapons
with the capability for mass destruction.

	Moscow is not a signatory to the accord, but it has previously agreed
to abide by it. Davis said Russia's reaffirmation of MTCR guidelines is
an important step toward covincing the former Soviet superpower to sign
the agreement.

	``Our goal is that Russia become a partner in the MTCR,'' Davis said.

Article: 3242
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.tw.space,clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.top.world
Subject: India launches indigeniously made multi-purpose satellite
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 4:07:56 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- India put into space Friday a second
generation multi-purpose satellite INSAT-2B, the Press Trust of India
news agency reported. 

	The 4,180-lb. satellite made by Indian Space Research
Organization was shot into space by Europe's Ariane rocket from Kourou
in French Guiana, the news agency said. 

	The INSAT-2B, expected to go into operational use in
September, would enhance India's communications, weather forecasting,
disaster warning, and broadcasting services. 

	India has a broad-based space program that started in the 1970s.

	Indian scientists are trying to develop two powerful
space-launch vehicles that Western experts say would boost the
country's military capabilities. 

	India officials say they plan to offer space-launch services
to foreign clients after they develop the two new rockets. 

	Russian Glavkosmos, under U.S. pressure, last week cancelled
the $350 million cryogenic rocket deal for India's space program. 

	With the cryogenic engine technology, India hoped to acquire
by 1996 the capability to launch geostationary satellites on its own,
end dependence on foreign launches and offer launches to other
countries on a commercial basis. 

	The launch of INSAT-2B cost the country $7 million more than
the cost of building it.  The high cost of launching a satellite was
one of the reasons why India wanted to acquire or develop cryogenic
engines. 

	Indian experts, however, say that the country is capable of
developing its own cryogenic engine. 

	Cryogenic technology combines liquid hydrogen with liquid
oxygen to provide much greater lift-off power to a space-launch vehicle. 

	The transfer of cryogenic technology is barred by the Western-
sponsored Missile Technology Control Regime. 

	Publicly unveiled in 1987, the regime seeks to control exports
of components and technologies that have dual applications in civilian
and military space industries. 

Article: 4260
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.military,clari.news.economy
Subject: Indian Prime Minister claims Russian rocket deal is not over
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 2:36:52 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao told the
Indian parliament Wednesday that a Russian team plans to come to India
to hold discussions of the cryogenic rocket deal. 

	Rao claimed Russia has ``not reneged'' on the contract for the
transfer of the cryogenic space technology, and reiterated that if the
obligation is broken then India will develop the space engines indigenously. 

	Russian Glavkosmos froze the $350 million cryogenic rocket
deal earlier this month under pressure from the United States, who
believe the technology could be used for military purposes. 

	The United States contends that the transfer of cryogenic
technology, which combines liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to
provide much greater lift-off power to the launch vehicle, could be
used to build long-range ballistic missiles. Indian officials,
however, argue that cryogenics are not suitable for ballistic missiles
and pointed out that no nation has utilized them in missiles. 

	With the cryogenic engine technology from Russia, India hoped
to acquire by 1996 the capability to launch its own geostationary
satellites, end dependence on foreign launches, and offer the service
commercially to other countries. 

	The transfer of cryogenic technology is barred by the
21-country missile technology control regime, publicly unveiled in
1987, which seeks to control exports of components and technologies
that have dual applications in civilian and military space industries.

Article: 4317
From: [email protected] (GUY CHAZAN)
Newsgroups: clari.news.hot.east_europe,clari.news.hot.ussr
Subject: Dispute simmers over India rocket deal
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 93 11:29:34 PDT
 
	MOSCOW (UPI) -- Russian officials stressed Thursday that a
decision to freeze a deal to supply rocket technology to India would
remove the threat of Western sanctions against Russian firms and help
Moscow gain access to the lucrative market in space services. 

	But the decision has led to a new round of mudslinging between the
government and Russia's hard-line Parliament, which has accused
ministers of kowtowing to Western interests and selling out Russia's
commercial interests.

	Russia agreed not to go ahead with the sale after the United States
claimed it violated missile control treaties and said the accompanying
technology could give India the ability to develop long-range ballistic
weapons.

	Moscow ultimately bowed to U.S. demands, agreeing to supply only a
few of the boosters, without the accompanying technology.

	But the government move raised a storm of protest in Russia, with the
head of the firm behind the Indian deal saying he would ignore the
decision and continue to supply New Delhi with the rocket engines.

	Government officials Thursday hit back at the quasi-independent
Russian space firm Glavkosmos for pursuing the deal despite claims that
it contravened international treaties on non-proliferation of rocket
technology.

	The contract involved not only delivery of cryogenic boosters,
which India says it will use to launch satellites, but also technology
to reproduce them. nment had no right to freeze what was essentially a
commercial contract, and claimed Russia would lose $400 million and
65,000 jobs from the breakdown of the deal. 

	The rocket dispute has prompted lawmakers to demand that all Russian
foreign trade be put under Parliament control. It also has created
tension between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Ministry of
Foreign Trade which supported the contract.

	But the Russian decision to back down to U.S. demands has cleared the
way for Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin to reschedule his canceled
visit to the United States to sign agreements on cooperation in space.

	Moscow hopes that by pacifying Washington it might gain U.S. approval
for Russian access to markets in commercial space launches, which could
provide valuable foreign exchange for the country's cash-strapped space
industry.

	It might also encourage the United States to buy Russian technology
for the Freedom space station project, which could earn Moscow much more
than the Indian deal -- up to $1 billion over the next 10-15 years,
according to Russian Space Agency chief Yuri Koptev.

	Koptev said Russia had won two prestigious contracts for commercial
launches -- a $200 million deal to launch Irridium satellites and a $44
million contract to launch Inmarsat satellites.

	But further success in garnering new clients is dependent on progress
in eliminating key Western cold-war restrictions on the import of high
technology products to Russia, as well as several other obsolete trade
hurdles.

Article: 3268
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.trends,clari.tw.space
Subject: India's new multipurpose satellite becomes fully operational
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 93 7:13:24 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- India's latest indigenously-built
satellite, Insat-2B, became fully operational Tuesday, more than two
weeks after it was placed in orbit by a European rocket, space
officials said. 

	The multipurpose satellite became available for commercial
services after extensive tests were carried out on its communications
transponders and meteorological payload. 

	Insat-2B was launched July 23 aboard the Ariana space vehicle
from French Guiana, located along the northeastern coast of South America. 

	Ariana, owned by the European Space Agency, also put into orbit
in July 1992 another major indigenously-built Indian satellite, Insat-2A.

	Like Insat-2A, the new satellite will be used for 
telecommunications, broadcasting and meteorology.

	India has a broad-based space program. Thirteen years ago,
India became the seventh country in the world to successfully place a
satellite in orbit with its own space-launch vehicle. 

	While India has demonstrated its capability to manufacture
sophisticated satellites, it is still trying to build space-launch
vehicles with powerful rocket boosters. As a result, India has had to
turn to foreign commercial agencies to launch its large satellites. 

	The Insat-2 satellites are a successor to the Insat-1 series
of satellites that were built to Indian specifications by the U.S.
Ford Aerospace and Communications Corp. and launched by U.S. rockets
in the 1980s. 

	Indian scientists now are trying to develop two powerful
space-launch vehicles which, according to Western experts, would also
boost the country's military capabilities. 

	U.R. Rao, head of the space program, said recently India was
eager to enter the lucrative global space-services market. 

	Rao said the Indian Department of Space had set up a commercial 
company, Antrix, to sell space hardware to overseas clients. 

	The United States views the Indian space program with deep
concern because India -- which demonstrated its nuclear-weapons
capability in 1974 by detonating an atomic device -- could employ its
civilian rocket technology to build nuclear-capable intercontinental
ballistic missiles. 

	Washington recently persuaded Russia to cancel a $350 million
deal to sell sophisticated rocket-engine technology to India. 

	The deal involved cryogenic technology, which combines liquid
hydrogen with liquid oxygen to provide much greater lift-off power to
the launch vehicle. 

Article: 13014
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.military,clari.news.gov.international
Subject: Indian lawmakers accuse U.S. of acting like a ``big bully''
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 93 7:17:14 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- Indian Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao,
responding to lawmakers' concerns over U.S. ``bullying tactics,''
pledged Friday his government will not succumb to any external
pressure on the country's nuclear and missile programs.

	``Without going into details, let me assure the House that there
is no question of succumbing to any pressure,'' Rao said in the
ruling lower chamber of Parliament.

	Lawmakers charged the U.S. government with behaving like an
``arrogant world policeman'' and trying to ``bully'' and ``browbeat'' India.

	``After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States is
emerging as a big international bully,'' said Gurudas Gupta, a Communist 
legislator. ``Washington does not want friends, only surrogates.''

	J.P. Mathur of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata (Indian People's)
Party said, ``The United States does not want India to be
successful, and this attitude is condemnable.''

	The lawmakers were reacting to the recent U.S. success in
persuading Moscow to cancel a $350 million contract to sell
space-launch engine technology to India. Washington also continues to
pressure India to cap its nuclear and missile programs. 

	In a note delivered to the Indian foreign ministry recently, the
U.S. administration urged New Delhi to suspend the deployment of
its ``Prithvi'' short-range missile, halt further testing of the
``Agni'' intermediate-range ballistic missile, and terminate
production of weapons-usable plutonium.

	U.S.-Indian relations, which had been on an upswing since the
end of the Cold War, now have come under strain following the
American pressure, according to independent analysts.

	``The problem lies in the fact that while India wishes to be
treated as an equal, the U.S. likes to dictate terms and
conditions of the relationship. For any self-respecting nation,
that is clearly an unacceptable situation,'' the Indian Express,
the country's largest chain of newspapers, editorialized Friday.

	New Delhi is a major critic of the 1970 Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty, saying it is discriminatory because it
places arms-control curbs only on the non-weapon states, not on
the five powers with acknowledged nuclear arsenals.

	India, whose atomic program dates back to the late 1940s, has
built a formidable nuclear-weapons capability. It tested a
nuclear device in 1974 and has a large and growing stockpile of
unsafeguarded, weapons-usable plutonium.

	The Indian Army deployed the first batch of Prithvi missiles
along the tense border with Pakistan.

	Agni, the other ground-to-ground missile currently being tested,
is seen by analysts as an essential component of India's drive to
build a nuclear deterrent against China, which has a burgeoning
nuclear arsenal.

	In September 1992, India successfully tested its unmanned
target aircraft (UTA), heralding the country's entry into the
advanced cruise missile technology arena.

	While pressuring India to slow down its nuclear and missile
programs, the United States has sought Indian cooperation in
controlling exports of sensitive components and technology. India
has emerged as a potential second-tier supplier of proliferation-
related technologies.

Article: 3289
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.trends,clari.tw.space
Subject: India to locally build rocket engines denied by Russia 
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 93 1:32:05 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- India will indigenously build within two
years the rocket engines that Russia recently refused to sell under
U.S. pressure, Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao said Sunday. 

	Moscow announced last month that it was canceling a $350
million contract with India to sell the rocket engines and related
technology. The announcement came after President Bill Clinton raised
the issue with Russian President Boris Yeltsin at the G-7 summit in
Tokyo. 

	The deal involved cryogenic technology, which combines liquid
hydrogen with liquid oxygen to provide much greater lift-off power to
a space-launch vehicle. India says it needs the 12-ton cryogenic
engines to build powerful rocket boosters to place in orbit a new
generation of telecommunications and meteorological satellites. 

	Rao said, ``Our scientists have resolved to develop this
technology within two years. This will make India self-reliant in
rocket technology.'' 

	The 72-year-old leader, addressing the nation on Independence
Day, said although India had signed a contract with Moscow in 1990 to
buy the engines and related technology, ``there is now a question mark
over this agreement.'' 

	The United States had been pressuring Moscow since 1991 to
cancel the cryogenic contract with India. Yeltsin, however, had
pledged in New Delhi during a state visit last January that his
government would transfer the sophisticated rocket-engine technology
to New Delhi despite U.S. concern over its possible diversion to
military development. 

	Yeltsin's about-face on the issue, therefore, surprised Indian
officials and analysts. 

	In May 1992, Washington imposed limited trade sanctions
against the Indian Space Research Organization and Russia's Glavkosmos
to discourage the two agencies from going ahead with the cryogenic deal. 

	The transfer of cryogenic technology is barred by the Missile
Technology Control Regime, a Western cartel. 

	Publicly unveiled in 1987, the regime seeks to control exports
of components and technologies that have dual applications in civilian
and military space industries. India and Russia are not members of the
cartel but have pledged to adhere to its guidelines. 

	The United States contends that the cryogenic technology could
be diverted by New Delhi to build intercontinental ballistic missiles.
India and Russia, however, contend that cryogenics are unsuitable for
ballistic missiles and that no nation employs them for that purpose. 

	Rao in his speech said the successful commissioning of a new
indigenously-built satellite, Insat-2B, last week underscored India's
march toward technological self-reliance. 

	The multipurpose satellite was launched July 23 aboard the
Ariana space vehicle from French Guiana, located along the
northeastern coast of South America. 

	The United States views the Indian space program with deep
concern because India, which has developed a formidable
nuclear-weapons capability, could employ its civilian rocket
technology to build nuclear-capable ICBMs. 

	In recent years, Indian scientists have successfully tested
five ballistic-missile systems, including the intermediate-range Agni.

	India has a broad-based civilian space program. Thirteen years
ago, it suprised the world by placing a satellite in orbit. 

	Indian scientists now are trying to develop two powerful
space-launch vehicles which, according to Western experts, would boost
the country's military capabilities. 


Article: 3293
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.trends,clari.tw.space,clari.biz.economy.world
Subject: India schedules launch of powerful rocket between Sept. 5-15
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 93 4:22:38 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- India will launch a powerful new rocket
with a remote-sensing satellite on board next month from its main
launch pad along the Bay of Bengal coastline, the head of the space
program announced Monday. 

	The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle will be fired between Sept.
5 and 15, Indian Space Commission Chairman U. R. Rao told the Press
Trust of India news agency in an interview. 

	The PSLV is one of two powerful space-launch vehicles whose
successful development by Indian scientists, according to Western
experts, will significantly boost the country's space and military
capabilities. 

	The other rocket under development is the Geostationary Launch
Vehicle. The GSLV will give India an undisputed intercontinental
ballistic missile capability, independent analysts say. 

	Rao's announcement came as officials indicated that Indian
scientists were preparing to carry out another test of the country's
intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Agni, or Fire, despite U.S.
pressure. 

	The Agni, a ground-to-ground missile seen by Indian analysts
as an essential component of their country's drive to build a small but 
credible nuclear deterrent against China, was first tested in May 1989. 

	In a note delivered to the Indian foreign ministry recently,
the Clinton administration urged New Delhi to suspend the deployment
of its Prithvi short-range missile and halt further testing of the Agni. 

	The U.S. pressure has evoked strong Indian reaction, and Prime
Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, responding to lawmakers' concerns over
what they perceived as American ``bullying tactics,'' told Parliament
last week that his government will never succumb to external pressure.

	PTI quoted the space chief as saying the 275-ton PSLV, fueled
by both solid and liquid propellants, is the third-largest rocket
booster in the world. 

	The first PSLV flight is to place into a sun-synchronous polar
orbit India's indigenously-built IRS-1E remote-sensing satellite.
Fitted with a monocular electro-optical stereo scanner, the IRS-1E can
also be used for reconnaissance. 

	India has a broad-based civilian space program and
demonstrated its capability more than 13 years ago of building its own
satellite and placing it in orbit. 

	The United States views the Indian space program with deep
concern because India, which detonated a nuclear device in 1974, could
employ its civilian rocket technology to build nuclear-capable ICBMs
and threaten long-term U.S. national security. 


Article: 2776
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.tw.telecom,clari.news.tv
Subject: Indian state television launches five new stations
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 93 6:20:43 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- India's state-owned television launched
five new satellite stations Sunday to meet competition from the
increasingly popular foreign cable broadcasts. 

	The government-run Doordarshan network, which had provided
only 16 hours of programming a day on two channels up to now, began
broadcasting separate specialized channels early Sunday morning. 

	The new music, sports, business, entertainment and education
stations will provide a total of 40 hours of programs per day initially. 
The hours of broadcast will gradually be expanded, according to officials 
of the Indian Information and Broadcasting Ministry. 

	The government is using its latest indigenously built
multipurpose satellite, Insat-2B, to launch the new stations. Insat-2B
was placed into orbit July 23 aboard the Ariana Space Vehicle from
French Guiana. 

	Ariane, a rocket owned by the European Space Agency, had also
put into orbit Insat-2A, another locally manufactured satellite that
state television has used for its main channel. 

	Doordarshan uses a network of ground-based transmission
stations to reach nearly all of India's 880 million people. The new
Insat-2B based satellite transmission will be available to 83 percent
of the population, according to television officials. 

	The five new stations were launched on the 47th anniversary of
India's Independence Day. 

	Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, in a speech to the nation,
said Sunday the new stations and Insat-2B's commercial service
underlined India's technological strength and self-reliance. 

	Foreign cable broadcasts have become very popular with India's
urban population. Cable operators offer American television shows and
movies, entertainment programs, sports, and round-the-clock news
broadcasts by Cable News Network and the British Broadcasting Corp. 

	The Hongkong-based Star TV network, recently purchased by
media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, beams five separate channels into Indian
homes, including a Hindi-language channel, Zee TV, whose growing
popularity was seen as a major threat by Doordarshan. 

Article: 4412
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.military
Subject: India says it will seek to salvage rocket deal with Moscow
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 93 6:41:33 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- India said Wednesday it will try to salvage a
rocket-engine technology contract with Russia despite clear indications
that Moscow had withdrawn from the $350 million deal under U.S. pressure.

	``The doors on the contract have not been totally closed because the
Russians have expressed readiness to hold further consultations with
India in the matter,'' Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao told Parliament.

	Rao's statement came after the upper House began an urgent discussion
of the issue in response to a demand by more than 50 lawmakers.

	Rao said it would be premature to contend the deal already had been
scrapped by Moscow. ``I will not take it as if the contract is off,'' the 
prime minister said. ``There is a promise that discussions will take place.''

	Rao said Russian President Boris Yeltsin had told him during his
state visit to New Delhi last January that Moscow would honor the
contract and not succumb to U.S. pressure.

	The deal focusses on the transfer of cryogenic technology, which
combines liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen to provide much greater lift
to a space-launch vehicle. India says it needs the 12-ton cryogenic
engines to build powerful rocket boosters to place in orbit a new
generation of telecommunications and meteorological satellites.

	Moscow informed India on July 16 that it was unable to meet
the terms of the 1990 contract due to ``unforeseen circumstances.''
The announcement came shortly after U.S. President Bill Clinton
discussed the deal with Yeltsin at the G-7 summit in Tokyo. 

	Opposition lawmakers accused the United States of acting like an 
``international bully'' and urged Rao's government to demand reparations
from Russia for unilaterally breaking a binding contract.

	Rao earlier said if Moscow reneged on the contract, India would build
its own cryogenic rocket engines for its civilian space program within
two years.

	The United States argues that the cryogenic technology could be
diverted to India's ambitious ballistic missile program. India and
Russia, however, contend that cryogenics are unsuitable for ballistic
missiles, pointing out no nation employs them for that purpose.

	In May 1992, Washington imposed limited trade sanctions against the
Indian Space Research Organization and Russia's Glavkosmos to discourage
the two agencies from going ahead with the cryogenic 5eDX6.

	The transfer of cryogenic technology is barred by the Western-
sponsored Missile Technology Control Regime.

	Publicly unveiled in 1987, the regime seeks to control exports of
components and technologies that have both civilian and military
applications. India and Russia are not members of the regime but have
pledged to adhere to its guidelines.

	The United States views the Indian space program with concern
because India, which detonated a nuclear device in 1974, could employ
its civilian rocket technology to build nuclear-capable
intercontinental ballistic missiles. 

Article: 13271
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.tw.aerospace,clari.news.military
Subject: India all set to launch PSLV rocket
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 93 5:21:24 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- India's newest and most powerful rocket, the $144-
million Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, will be fired between Sept. 10-
15 with a remote-sensing satellite on board, space officials announced
Thursday.

	The announcement followed Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao's visit
Wednesday to the launch pad in Sriharikota, along the Bay of Bengal coastline.

	Rao inspected the 275-ton, 145-foot (44-meter) PSLV, which is to
place the Indian-made IRS-1E satellite into a polar sun-synchronous
orbit. The IRS-1E will provide India with satellite reconnaissance
capabilities.

	India has a broad-based civilian space program and demonstrated its
capability more than 13 years ago to build and place a satellite in
orbit with an indigenous launcher.

	Current Indian space efforts are concentrated on building powerful
rocket boosters to place the next generation of weather and
telecommunications satellites in orbit. The PSLV is the first of such
rockets and has been designed to carry a maximum payload of 2,200 pounds
(1,000 kg).

	U. R. Rao, head of the space program, said the PSLV, which has two
solid-fuel and two liquid-fuel rocket stages, will be launched between
Sept. 10-15, with the exact date to be determined by weather conditions.

	The PSLV is India's first space-launch vehicle to use a liquid
propulsion system.

	Indian scientists also are working on another liquid-propulsion
rocket, the Geostationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV), using cryogenic engine
technology, which combines liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen to provide
much greater lift-off power.

	Under a $75-million contract signed in January 1991, Moscow was to
sell cryogenic technology to India. Moscow, however, backed out of the
deal recently under U.S. pressure.

	Later this fall, Indian scientists are expected to carry out another
test of the country's intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Agni, or Fire.

	The Agni, a ground-to-ground missile seen by Indian analysts as an
essential component of their country's drive to build a nuclear arsenal,
was first tested in May 1989.

	In separate notes delivered to the Indian foreign ministry recently,
the United States and the other G-7 nations urged New Delhi to suspend
the deployment of its Prithvi short-range missile and halt further
testing of the Agni.

	The U.S. pressure has evoked strong Indian reaction, and Prime
Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, responding to lawmakers' criticism of U.S.
``bullying tactics,'' told Parliament last month that his government
will not succumb to external pressure.

Article: 13468
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.tw.aerospace,clari.news.military
Subject: India begins countdown for rocket launch
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 93 11:43:42 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- Indian scientists began a countdown Friday
for the launch of a new type of rocket that is to place in orbit a
remote-sensing satellite with reconnaissance capabilities, space
officials said. 

	The rocket, known as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), 
will blast off into outer space from the Sriharikota launch pad along the 
Bay of Bengal coastline by Sunday morning, the officials said. 

	The PSLV is a successor to the Augmented Satellite Launch
Vehicle (ASLV), which was successfully launched last May after several
abortive efforts. 

	The PSLV is one of two rockets India is developing on its own.
The other is the Geostationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV), planned to be
deployed by 1996. 

	According to the Indian government, the completion of the PSLV
and GSLV will make India self-reliant in space technology and enable
it to compete in the lucrative international space market. 

	In 1980, India became the sixth country to place a satellite
in orbit with an indigenous rocket. Since then, it has launched a
series of locally-built satellites. 

	The 275-ton, 145-foot (44-meter) PSLV will put the Indian-made
IRS-1E satellite in a polar sun-synchronous orbit on its maiden flight. 
The IRS-1E will provide India with satellite reconnaissance capabilities. 

	The PSLV is India's first space-launch vehicle to use liquid-
propulsion technology. 

	In addition to a broad-based civilian space program, India
also has a program for building ballistic missiles for its military.
Since 1987, Indian scientists have successfully tested five different
missile systems. 

	Later this fall, the scientists are expected to carry out
another test of India's intermediate-range ballistic missile, the
Agni, or Fire, seen as an essential component of the current Indian
drive to build a nuclear arsenal. India's neighbor, China, is also a
nuclear power. 

	Earlier this year, India began deploying near the border with
Pakistan the first batches of its short-range, liquid-fueled Prithvi,
or Earth, missile fitted with conventional warheads. 

Unfortunately, the PSLV launch failed.  Apparently, the first 3 stages worked as
planned, but the 4th stage, allegedly the least technologically challenging,
failed to provide the final burn into orbit, and the satellite came crashing
down.

Burns

Article: 1920
From: [email protected] (BRAHMA CHELLANEY)
Newsgroups: clari.biz.products,clari.biz.features,clari.tw.misc
Subject: India's space program suffers serious setback
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 93 7:52:09 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- India's ambitious space program to
make it competitive in the commercial space market suffered a major
setback Monday when its newest and most powerful rocket failed to
complete its mission on its maiden voyage. 

	The four-stage $144-million Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle,
critical to India's drive to build indigenous launch capabilities for
large satellites, climbed barely half of the programmed distance into
outer space, failing to place a remote-sensing, reconnaissance-capable
satellite in orbit. 

	``Disturbances cropped up at the beginning of the third rocket
stage and continued into the fourth and final stage. We are still
studying what exactly happened,'' Indian space chief U. R. Rao said. 

	The fourth rocket stage and the 1,925-pound (875-kg) payload
-- the Indian-made IRS-1E satellite -- then broke off and fell into
the sea off Sri Lanka, the official said. 

	Despite the mission failure, Rao described the PSLV flight as
``a mixed bag of success,'' pointing out the rocket's ``motors worked,
the inertial navigation system worked, and the sequencing worked.'' He
said the next PSLV flight was planned for next year. 

	In 1980, India entered the exclusive space club by becoming
the sixth country after the United States, the Soviet Union, Japan,
France and China to place a satellite in orbit with an indigenous
rocket. Since then, it has built and launched a series of sophisticated 
satellites, making India the Third World leader in satellite technology. 

	Current Indian space efforts are concentrated on building
powerful rocket boosters to place the next generation of weather and
telecommunications satellites in orbit. The PSLV is the first of such
rockets and has been designed to carry a maximum payload of 2,200
pounds (1,000 kg). 

	The Press Trust of India news agency reported that a problem
developed in the rocket's flex nozzles after the vehicle was more than
400 miles (650 km) above Earth. 

	Space officials said scientists at the Indian Space Research
Organization headquarters in Bangalore, southern India, were analyzing
available data to determine exactly what went wrong. 

	The IRS-1E, which would have provided India satellite
reconnaissance, meteorological and other remote-sensing capabilities,
was destroyed, the officials said. 

	Indian scientists also are building the Geostationary Launch
Vehicle (GSLV), whose planned development by 1996-1997 will arm India
with a strong intercontinental ballistic capability. 

	According to the Indian government, the completion of the PSLV
and GSLV projects will make India self-reliant in space technology and
enable it to compete in the multibillion-dollar international space market. 

	Civilian space-launch technology can be used to build
ballistic missiles, and the United States views the Indian space
program with deep concern. 

	India, which detonated a nuclear device in 1974, already has
developed five separate missile systems since 1987, including the
intermediate-range Agni missile, seen by international military
experts as an essential component of the Indian drive to build a
nuclear deterrent against China. 

Article: 1940
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.biz.economy.world,clari.tw.aerospace
Subject: Ignition problem blamed for failure of Indian space mission
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 93 12:57:57 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- India's latest rocket, the $144
million Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, failed to place a remote-
sensing, reconnaissance-capable satellite in orbit this week because 
of an ignition problem, the main space agency said Thursday. 

	The space mission, which would have positioned India to
compete in the international space industry, failed because a
disturbance during the third-stage ignition crippled the PSLV's
upward velocity, the Indian Space Research Organization said in a
preliminary report on the flight last Monday. 

	After the four-stage rocket, which was carrying an Indian-made
IRS-1E satellite, climbed to a height of 215 miles (350 km), the
uppermost rocket section and satellite fell into the sea off Sri
Lanka, ISRO said. 

	The agency, after analyzing 100,000 pages of data from the
launch, said all the 10 major rocket motors worked properly during the
flight, including the 129-ton first stage, described as the third
largest solid-fueled rocket motor in the world. 

	In 1980, India entered the exclusive space club by becoming
the sixth country after the United States, the Soviet Union, Japan,
France and China to place a satellite in orbit with an indigenous
launcher. Since then, it has built and launched a series of
sophisticated satellites. 

	According to the Indian government, the completion of the PSLV
and the Geostationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV) will make India
self-reliant in space technology and enable it to compete in the
mulltibillion-dollar international space-services market. 

	GSLV's development will give India an intercontinental ballistic 
missile capability, according to international space experts. 

	The United States views the Indian space program with deep
concern because India, which demonstrated its nuclear-weapons
capability two decades ago by detonating an atomic device, could
employ its civilian rocket technology to build nuclear-capable ICBMs. 

	In May 1992, Washington slapped limited trade sanctions
against ISRO and Russia's Glavkosmos to discourage the two space
agencies from going ahead with a $75 million deal involving the
transfer of cryogenic rocket-engine technology for the GSLV. Recently,
Moscow backed out of the contract under sustained U.S. pressure. 

Article: 3541
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.trends,clari.tw.space
Subject: India to begin TV broadcasts to Middle East, Southeast Asia
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 93 2:22:00 PDT
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- India's state-run television will begin broadcasts
to the Middle East and Southeast Asia in 1995 after a new indigenous
satellite is placed in orbit, a senior official announced Monday.

	The new multipurpose Insat-2C satellite will be used mainly for
broadcast and telecommunications, Information and Broadcasting Minister
K.P. Singh told the inaugural session of an international conference on
cable and satellite broadcasts.

	Singh said India was one of the world leaders in satellite
technology, and Insat-2C would enable the government-run Doordarshan
network to beam broadcasts to much of the Middle East and parts of
Southeast Asia, where Indian movies and television programs are popular.

	Last August, Doordarshan launched five new domestic satellite
stations to meet competition from the increasingly popular foreign cable
broadcasts.

	The state-owned TV, which until then had provided only 16 hours of
programming a day on two channels, launched specialized music, sports,
business, entertainment, and education channels on the 47th anniversary
of India's Independence Day.

	The action came after the Indian-built Insat-2B was placed in orbit
July 23 aboard the Ariane space vehicle of the European Space Agency
from French Guiana.

	Foreign cable broadcasts have become very popular with India's
burgeoning middle class. Cable operators offer U.S. television shows and
movies, entertainment programs, sports, and round-the- clock news
broadcasts by the British Broadcasting Corp. and Cable News Network.

	The Hong Kong-based Star TV network, purchased this year by media
tycoon Rupert Murdock, beams five separate channels into Indian homes,
including a Hindi-language channel, Zee TV, whose growing popularity is
seen by Doordarshan as a major threat.

Article: 3626
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.trends,clari.tw.space
Subject: Russians conclude talks on scrapping rocket-engine deal
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 93 9:30:41 PST
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- A 14-member Russian team concluded talks
Friday with Indian space officials on scrapping a controversial 1991
contract involving the transfer of sophisticated rocket-engine
technology, the Space Department said. 

	Russian President Boris Yeltsin agreed last July to freeze the
contract after coming under pressure from President Clinton. 

	The $75 million deal involved cryogenic technology, which
combines liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen to provide much greater
lift-off power to a space-launch vehicle. 

	Russia is the second supplier-nation the United States has
persuaded not to sell cryogenic engine technology to India.  The first
was France. 

	There was no immediate comment by the Indian or Russian side
on the outcome of the talks in the southern Indian city of Bangalore,
headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organization. 

	A senior Russian official said earlier under conditions of
anonymity that in order to amicably terminate the contract, the
Russians were offering to sell ready-made engines for Indian space-
launch vehicles instead of transferring production technology as
required under the original contract. 

	India says it needs the engines for its next generation of
telecommunications and weather satellites.  Washington contended the
technology could be diverted to military applications -- a claim
disputed by New Delhi and Moscow who pointed out that such engines
have not been employed by any nation in ballistic missiles. 

	The contract provided end-use assurances by India and
safeguards against the transfer of cryogenic technology to a third
country.  The deal also committed Moscow to training Indian space
engineers in cryogenic technology so that India could indigenously
produce its first such engine by 1996. 

Article: 2111
From: [email protected] (SONALI VERMA)
Newsgroups: clari.tw.aerospace,clari.biz.economy.world
Subject: Software error blamed for crash of Indian rocket
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 94 7:29:18 PST
 
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- An inquiry has blamed a software
error for the crash of India's most powerful rocket on its maiden
voyage in September, space authorities said Monday. 

	The $144 million Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, which climbed
barely half of the programmed distance into outer space, was critical
to India's drive to build launch capabilities for large satellites. 

	The four-stage rocket plunged into the Indian Ocean with its
1,925- pound (875-kg) payload of the IRS-1E remote-sensing satellite
manufactured indigenously. The satellite would have provided India
reconnaissance, meteorological and other remote-sensing capabilities. 

	The government investigation said the crash was caused by a
software error in the rocket's guidance and control processor. 

	S. N. Pant, who headed the investigation, blamed the error on
disturbances triggered by the separation of the rocket's second and
third stages during its flight path. 

	``Certain software modifications have been suggested for the
next PSLV flight later this year,'' Pant said. 

	The failure was a major blow to India's ambitious space program.

	In 1980, India entered the exclusive space club by becoming
the sixth country after the United States, the Soviet Union, Japan,
France and China to place a satellite in orbit with an indigenous
rocket.  Since then, it has built and launched a series of sophisticated 
satellites, making it the Third World leader in satellite technology. 

	Current Indian space efforts are concentrated on building
powerful rocket boosters to place the next generation of weather and
telecommunications satellites in orbit.  The PSLV is the first of such
rockets and has been designed to carry a maximum payload of 2,200
pounds (1,000 kg). 

	Indian scientists also are building the Geostationary Launch
Vehicle, whose planned development by 1996-1997 will arm India with a
strong intercontinental ballistic capability. 

	According to the Indian government, the completion of the PSLV
and GSLV projects will make India self-reliant in space technology and
enable it to compete in the multibillion-dollar international space market. 

	Civilian space-launch technology can be used to build
ballistic missiles, and the United States views the Indian space
program with deep concern. 

	India, which detonated a nuclear device in 1974, already has
developed five separate missile systems since 1987, including the
intermediate-range Agni missile, seen by international military
experts as an essential component of the Indian drive to build a
nuclear deterrent against China. 

Article: 6518
From: [email protected] (NEELAM JAIN)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.tw.computers
Subject: Russia offers a new rocket deal to India
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 94 4:40:53 PST
 
	NEW DELHI (UPI) -- Russia is ready to supply seven cryogenic rocket
engines to India instead of two under a controversial $75 million rocket
engine deal, according to reports published Thursday.

	Moscow froze the deal unilaterally last July after U.S. President
Bill Clinton personally took up the matter with Russian President Boris
Yeltsin at the G-7 summit in Tokyo the same month.

	Newpapers, quoting the Russian Space Agency, said that the seven
engines, valued at $220-million, were intended to make up for Russia's
refusal to fulfill an initial contract to supply India with technology
and assistance.

	The original deal called for the transfer of cryogenic technology,
which combines liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen to provide much
greater lift for the launch of space vehicles. India said it needed the
12-ton cryogenic engines to put a new generation of telecommunications
and meteorological satellites into orbit.

	Washington opposed the deal on grounds the technology could be
diverted to military applications -- a claim disputed by New Delhi and
Moscow.

	A Russian team visited India last month to discuss an amicable
termination of the 1991 contract.  The team reportedly offered to sell
four ready-made engines to Indian instead of transferring production
technology as required under the deal.

	The Indian Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, however, said earlier
this month that it would begin producing its own cryogenic engines by
1998 without Russian assistance.

	Russia is the second nation to be persuaded by the United States not
to sell cryogenic engine technology to India. The first was France. 

	India first attempted to buy cryogenic engines and related technology
from Arianespace, the French-led European consortium, but Paris backed
down under U.S. pressure in 1990. 

	New Delhi then signed a contract with the Soviet Glavkosmos agency 
in January 1991 involving technology transfer and the supply of two
cryogenic-stage units for India's planned Geostationary Launch Vehicle. 

	The contract provided end-use assurances by India and safeguards
against the transfer of cryogenic technology to a third country. The
deal also committed Moscow to training Indian space engineers in cryogenic 
technology so that India could produce its own such engine by 1996. 

Article: 4002
From: [email protected] (AP)
Newsgroups: clari.world.asia.india,clari.tw.space,clari.world.asia
Subject: India To Boost Space Program
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 94 11:20:26 PDT
 
	BANGALORE, India (AP) -- India is eager to buy electronic
components for its satellites and rockets from the United States,
even though Washington suspects the Asian nation's space program
has a military angle and wants to put a lid on it.

	This issue is likely to figure in talks between India's Prime
Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and President Clinton in Washington
next month.

	India sees several obstacles in improving its relations with
Washington: the Clinton administration's demand for more
transparency in the nuclear program, the moratorium on the sale of
technology and components for India's space program -- which ends
this week but could be renewed -- and the criticism of India's
handling of the Muslim insurrection in Kashmir.

	This weekend marks the end of a two-year U.S. ban on the Indian
Space Research Organization, India's version of NASA. India's space
scientists are once again eyeing American companies, just as U.S.
businesses are looking to tap India's large markets.

	``The U.S. is a good cost-effective source for India and we are
looking forward to doing business with them again,'' said Indian
Space Research Organization chief Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan at a
news conference Friday.

	Thousands of miles (kilometers) away, Congressional Foreign
Affairs Committee Chairman Lee Hamilton told a journalist the
Clinton administration should try to ban India from deploying the
Prithvi missile, because it could target Pakistan and fuel another war.

	But in India's Parliament, opposition lawmakers are furious that
the government publicly says it will not allow the U.S. to twist
its arms on missile technology, but agrees to secret talks on
disarmament with American officials in London.

	A debate on India's missiles program and nuclear
non-proliferation has drowned Parliament in chaos after a series of
news reports that India is capping testing of ballistic missiles
under U.S. pressure and due to a financial crunch.

	The Indian Express newspaper reported that a team of American
officials reportedly is trying to persuade India to allow a team of
several countries to inspect its nuclear facilities.

	Lawmakers angrily accused the government of hiding the truth:
they said the London talks were hush-hush, Prime Minister Rao
suddenly become ill when he has to answer Parliament about the news
reports, and government ministers parroted the same line about the
talks being in preparation for Rao's meeting with Clinton.

_(_s_t_r_g_-_k_g_)

Article: 4007
From: [email protected] (Reuters)
Newsgroups: clari.world.asia.india,clari.world.asia,clari.tw.space
Subject: Indian Space Vehicle Launches Satellite
Date: Tue, 3 May 94 23:10:02 PDT
 
	 BANGALORE, India (Reuter) - India's space program took
another step forward Wednesday when it successfully blasted an Indian
satellite into orbit using its latest experimental launch vehicle,
officials said. 

	 The fourth Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASVL) lifted
off without a hitch from the coastal Sriharikota launch pad in
southern Tamil Nadu state at 5.30 a.m. (8 p.m. EDT Tuesday). 

	 It successfully placed the 293 pound SROSS-C2 research
satellite in an elliptical orbit 250 miles above Earth at its
closest point. 

	 Two of the three previous ASVL launches were outright
failures while the third, in 1992, placed a satellite in a much lower
orbit than planned.  An earlier generation of Indian launch vehicles
first put a much smaller satellite into space in 1980. 

	 The 42-ton ASVL cost 150 million rupees ($4.8 million).
About 70 percent of its components are Indian-made.

	 The latest satellite is expected to stay airborne for eight
to nine months, collecting data on gamma rays and the ionosphere.

	 India's ambitious space programme, slammed by critics who say
the money would be better spent on easing poverty, is the flagship project 
in Indian research to develop, among other things, controversial missiles. 

	 India has fought three wars with neighboring Pakistan and one
with China since it won independence from Britain in 1947. The country
is currently at odds with the United States over its missile program
and its refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. 

Article: 1745
From: [email protected] (mary-frances  jagod)
Newsgroups: sci.space.tech
Subject: Indian ASL4 - SROSS launch
Date: Sun, 8 May 1994 16:41:12 GMT
Organization: University of Chicago
 
[Reposted with permission by S. Ramani from misc.news.southasia]
 
Article 2081 of misc.news.southasia:
Subject: India - Countdown Begins for ASLV-D4 Launch
Organization: NCST, Bombay
Date: Sun, 1 May 94 12:37:26 GMT
 
Author: S. Ramani, NCST, Bombay
 
      Bangalore, May 1 (PTI): The countdown will begin
tomorrow for the launch of the fourth developmental flight of
the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV-D4) from the Shar
centre, Sriharikota, between 0530 hrs and 0730 hrs on May 4.
      The 41.7 tonne, 23.8 metre-high launch vehicle will
place the SROSS-C2 satellite weighing 113 kg, seven kg more
than last time, in the low earth orbit of 400 km.
      According to the Indian Space Research Organisation
Chairman, Dr K Kasturirangan, the continuation of the ASLV
programme will depend on the performance of this vehicle.(the
programme was planned as a forestep towards achieving the
capability of launching the polar satellite launch vehicle for
placing 1000 kg class IRS satellite in the polar orbit).
      Besides revalidating and reconfirming the technologies
proven by the ASLV-D3 flight in may, 1992, ASLV-D4 would help
collect more information about the launch vehicle's
characterestics. The may 1992 flight of the vehicle had
succesfully proven the strap-on technology, closed-loop
guidance, bulbous heat-shield, flexible dynamics and onboard
real time logic. 
      The Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS)-C2,
onboard the ASLV, would carry two scientific payloads -- a
Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) detector to detect gamma burst incidents
from celestial sources and a Retarding Potential Analyser
(RPA) to study the various aspects of the ionsophere.
      SROSS-C, launched by the ASLV-D3, had recorded a burst
incident and mapped good records about ionosphere characteristics. 
      While the last SROSS weighed a mere 106 kg, this time
the satellite's weight has been increased to 113 kg, still
leaving a good margin in the payload, giving hopes of a
successful launch and operationalisation.
      The perigee, the satellite's orbit closest to the earth,
has been planned as 400 km this time so that the satellite
could achieve a life span of eight months to a year,as against
the 55 days last time, by getting a longer light period.
      The satellite has been equipped with thrusters to
correct the orbit and the launch vehicle's onboard control
systems have been improved to take advantage of the
performance of second and fourth stages.
      Instead of the one-event storage capacity of gamma ray
burst payload, as many as 14 events can be stored this time by
making suitable software modifications. the flight detector
assembly was done and absolute efficiency measurements carried
out on the detector in collaboration wih radio chemistry
division of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Bombay.
     The improvements incorporated in the ASLV-D4,based on the
flight data analysis of ASLV-D3, includes the augumentation of
power supply for the pyros, modification of the fourth stage
sequencer and redesigning of the spin motor igniters.
     a number of technologies required for pslv and gslv such
as closed loop guidance, real time decision making system,
strap-on jettisoning and bulbous heatshield are proved through
ASLV, which uses solid propellents for all its four stages.
      the first developmental flight of the ASLV was carried
out on mar 24, 1987, after acquiring enough experience through
various developmental flights of satellite launch vehicles.
      ASLV-D2 lifted off from the launchpad of the shar centre
on july 13, 1988. though it was a failure, the ASLV-D3 which
was launched with enough modifications after the failure
analysis of ASLV-D2, could succesfully place SROSS-C satellite
into a low-earth orbit. 
 
Article 2096 of misc.news.southasia:
From: [email protected] (S.Ramani)
Subject: India's Rao Hails Successful Launch
Organization: NCST, Bombay
Date: Wed, 4 May 94 16:56:52 GMT
 
Author: S. Ramani, NCST, Bombay
 
* Rao Hails Successful Launch
 
      Sriharikota, May 4 (PTI): The Prime Minister, Mr P V
Narasimha Rao, today expressed happiness over the successful
fourth developmental flight of the Augmented Satellite Launch
Vehicle (ASLV), which placed a satellite in a better than
expected orbital position.
      The Prime Minister, who also holds the space portfolio,
conveyed his feelings to the Indian Space Research
Organisation Chairman, Dr K Kasturirangan, who informed him of
the 'grand success', ISRO sources told PTI here.
      Dr Kasturirangan also congratulated his team of
scientists. The former ISRO chairman, and presently member,
space commission, Prof U R Rao, was also present at the SHAR
centre here to share the rejoicing of the ISRO community.
      Other scientists associated with the programme, 
Dr. Pramod Kale, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC),
Thiruvananthapuram, Dr R Aravamudhan, director, SHAR centre,
Dr K Narayanamoorthy, ASLV project director, and Dr K Manoharan, 
ASLV Director, were seen congratulating one another. 
      It was a momentous occasion for the country and the
scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),
as their arduous efforts bore fruit.
      the news of the placement of SROSS into the orbit, after
the perfect blast-off, was received with thunderous applause
by those manning the mission control centre and vehicle
control centre, when it was officially announced by Dr
Kasturirangan that the SROSS had been slotted in orbit.
      As required, each stage of the four-stage rocket broke
off as programmed soon after the blast-off, culminating in the
the 113 kg satellite, carrying an aeronomy payload and an
astronomy payload, being placed into the orbit. 
 
Article 2101 of misc.news.southasia:
From: [email protected] (S.Ramani)
Subject: Indian Space Vehicle Successfully Launches Rohini Series Satellite
Organization: NCST, Bombay
Date: Wed, 4 May 94 17:00:11 GMT
 
Author: S. Ramani, NCST, Bombay
 
Headlines:
* Programme a 'grand success'
* Satellite Trakced by Earth Stations
* Ignition and Separation Normal at all Stages 
* Satellite's Performance Normal
* ASLV - History
* 'It was Planned in the Early Eighties Itself'
 
                                 * * * * * * 
 
* Programme a 'grand success'
 
      Sriharikota  May 4 (PTI): The fourth developmental
flight of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle took off
successfully from the SHAR centre here at 0530 hrs and placed
the SROSS-C2 satellite in orbit.
      The Stretched Rohini Series Satellite (SROSS) was placed
in a perigee of 439 km, 39 more than the expected low orbital
level and an apogee of 939 km, exactly 510 seconds after the
tremendous lift-off.
      the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman,
Dr K Kasturirangan, announced that the programme was a 'grand
success' and congratulated his colleagues on the achievement.
 
      Sriharikota, May 4 (PTI) ASLV-D4 blasts off into space
at exactly 0530 hrs. SROSS-C2 placed in orbit.
      Preliminary assessments indicate that all the four
stages and the initial 'zero stage' functioned as programmed.
      after the two strap-on boosters ignited, the first stage
ignition took place 48 seconds later, and the second stage
took 90 seconds for ignition.
      the third stage ignition took 150 seconds while the
fourth was over in under nine seconds, according to details
available at the Sriharikota range, 80 km from Madras. 
 
* Satellite trakced by earth stations
 
      Sriharikota, May 4 (PTI) The Stretched Rohini Series
Satellite (SROSS-C2), injected into orbit by the fourth
developmental flight of the augmented satellite launch vehicle
at 0530 hrs today, is being tracked by various ISRO earth
stations, including the Master Control Facility at Hassan.
      The satellite achieved a perigee of 439 km(point closest
to earth) and an apogee of 938 km (point farthest from earth).
      The successful placing of the satellite in orbit is a
boost to the Indian Space Research Organisation's launching
capability, as the satellite could achieve an orbital level of
39 km more than the expected 400 km.
      The previous sross launched by the third developmental
flight in May 1992 could only achieve 270 km perigee, mainly
due to the lower spin rate of the spin-based fourth stage.
      Instead of the anticipated 140 revolutions per minute
(rpm), the stage could only achieve half of it. This, coupled
with increased solar activity during May-June, reduced the
satellite's life to a mere 55 days.
      owing to the higher perigee achieved, the SROSS C2
launched today is expected to have a life span of more than 10
to 12 months.
      The third stage burn-out occurred at 195.6 seconds from
lift-off and was followed by a long 'coasting phase', the ISRO
release said. The closed loop guidance scheme functioned normally 
till the third stage separation at 488.9 seconds as planned.
      The fourth stage, carrying the two-payload 113 kg
SROSS-C2 satellite, was spun up, and the stage was ignited at
491.7 seconds.
      The separation of the satellite from the spent fourth
stage took place at 641.6 seconds from the lift-off, marking
the point when the satellite was injected into an orbit. 
      The release said the satellite orbit was about 437 km
perigee and 938 km apogee at an inclination of 46 degree based
preliminary orbit determination.
      All the events were monitored using the network of
telemetry and tracking stations at SHAR, Bangalore,
Thiruvananthapuram and Car Nicobar. Data received at Car
Nicobar indicated that the separation of the satellite from
the last stage was normal.
 
* Ignition and Separation Normal at all Stages 
 
      Sriharikota May 4 (PTI): The successful fourth
developmental flight of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle
(ASLV-D4) today was marked by normal ignition and separation
at each stage.
      The five-stage, solid propellant launch vehicle, lifted
off at 0530 hrs with the ignition of its two strap-on boosters
(zero stage), and 44.1 seconds later, the first stage motor
ignition was initiated by the on-board 'real time decision
(rtd) system'. The boosters separated at 55.1 seconds.
      The RTD system commanded the first stage separation and
ignition of second stage at 93 seconds from lift-off. then on,
the vehicle was put on the closed loop guidance scheme, an
ISRO press release said at madras.
      After the vehicle had cleared the dense atmosphere at
the pre-determined altitude of 107 km at 142.9 seconds as
planned, the heatshield was jettisoned. The second stage
separation and third stage ignition occurred at 148.1 seconds.
 
* Satellite's Performance Normal
 
      Madras, May 4 (PTI): The two payloads on board the
Stretched Rohini Series Satellite (SROSS-C2) are expected to
be switched on within the next few days after precise
determination of the orbit and health checks on the satellite.
      An ISRO press release said here today that a quicklook
analysis of data received at isro's telemetry, tracking and
command stations indicated the satellite's normal performance.
      Orbit and orientation control manoeuvres are now being
carried out. The spin-stabilised satellite uses six reaction
control thrusters for orbit correction and orientation control
      Of the two scientific payloads in the satellite, one is
intended to detect celestial gamma ray bursts, and another,
comprising a retarding potential analyser, to investigate the
characteristics of the equatorial and low latitudes ionosphere
and thermosphere.
      The flight's success has demonstrated the repeatability
of the vehicle sub-systems and helped evaluation of a number
of technologies used in advanced launch vehicles like the PSLV
and GSLV, including the strap-on booster technology, closed
loop guidance system, real-time on-board decision system,
besides the telemetry tracking and command systems. 
 
* ASLV - History
 
      Sriharikota, may 4 (pti): following is the history of 
india's slv-3, aslv and pslv programmes at a glance.
--------------------------------------------------------------
          slv-3
1. first exptl. launch         (10.8.79) (partial success)
2. second exptl. launch 
   (rohini satellite on board) (18.7.80) (success). 
3. first developmental launch 
   (rs-d1 on board)            (31.5.81) (success)
4. second developmental launch 
   (rs-d2 on board)            (17.4.83) (success)
--------------------------
          aslv
5. first developmental launch  (24.3.87) (failure)
6. second developmental launch (13.7.88) (failure)
7. third developmental launch  (20.5.92) (success)
8. fourth developmental launch (04.5.94) (success)
--------------------------
         pslv
9. first developmenal launch   (20.9.93) (failure)
--------------------------------------------
aslv-history
 
* 'It was Planned in the Early Eighties Itself'
 
      Sriharikota, May 4 (PTI) the Augmented Satellite Launch
Vehicle programme, which fructified with what was possibly its
last flight today, was planned in the early eighties even as
the slv programme was in full swing as a pre-step towards achieving 
the goal of developing polar and geosynchronous launch vehicles for 
launching IRS and INSAT classes of satellites.
      A blueprint was drawn to expand the infrastructural
facilities for realising the goal of ASLV to act as a low cost
launch vehicle for proving the highly complex technologies
which would have to be incorporated in the Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle and Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle.
      Based on studies, they added two strap-on motors to the
first stage of the basic SLV configuration making it possible
to increase the payload capacity from the 40 kg capacity of
SLV to 150 kg.
      Also to meet the obective various complex technologies
such as canted nozzle, bulbous metallic heatshield, closed
loop guidance system and inertial navigation system, were
developed in a time frame at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
      After developing the strap-ons, VSSC succesfully
demonstrated the differential thrust requirment between the
strap-on motors soon. 

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scored a success on Oct 15
with the launch of its PSLV Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (The first
PSLV failed in Sep 1993). The four stage rocket orbited the 870 kg IRS-P2
satellite into a 798 x 882 km x 99 deg polar orbit. IRS-P2 is part of
the Indian Remote Sensing satellite series. Developed by the ISRO Satellite
Centre in Bangalore, it carries the LISS-II (Linear Imaging Self Scanner)
CCD camera with a 32m resolution and four visible and near infrared bands.

  IRS satellites:

  IRS-1A  1988 Mar 17  Vostok, Baykonur       870 x 914 km x 99.0 deg
  IRS-1B  1991 Aug 29  Vostok, Baykonur       862 x 918 km x 99.2 deg
  IRS-1E  1993 Sep 20  PSLV-D1, Sriharikota    (Failed)
  IRS-P2  1994 Oct 15  PSLV-D2, Sriharikota   798 x 882 km x 98.7 deg

The PSLV first stage (PS-1) is a 129 tonne solid motor 2.8m in dia with
a thrust of 4500 kN. Six strap-on HTPB/Ammonium Perchlorate solid motors
of 662 kN are attached, two of which ignite at launch, the other four
igniting 30 sec later. The first two separate at 73s, the remaining four
are jettisoned at 90s. At T+111s the PS-1 falls away and the PS-2
ignites. This is a 38 tonne liquid fuel stage (India's first) using
UDMH/N2O4. The single Vikas engine has a thrust of 725 kN. At T+154s the
vehicle reached 117 km altitude and the fairing was jettisoned, with
second stage separation at 261s. The third stage (PS-3) is a 7 tonne
solid motor with a thrust of 340 kN. It burns from T+261s to T+380s,
to an altitude of 421 km. The payload and attached PS-4 stage now
coast in transfer trajectory until T+591.4s when the PS-4's MMH/N2O4
liquid engine ignites for a 397s burn. PS-4 and IRS-P2 separated at
T+1012s. [Source: ISRO Press Release, 1994 Oct 15].

Sorry, I did not credit that last paragraph to "Jonathon's Space Report"

Burns