SPACE APPLICATIONS FOR SOCIETAL NEEDS

Dr. G. Madhavan Nair

Introduction

The space research activities were initiated in our country during the early1960’s, with a vision to explore the space and applying its benefits for national development. Right from onset, the Indian Space effort has been specifically tailored towards enhancing the quality of life of a common man. It was the vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the founding father of our space programme “ to be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society ” which has been the driving force for the space endeavor. Since then, India has made remarkable progress in developing the state-of-the-art space technology and its applications, which has become an important element of the national infrastructure. The space enabled application programmes of ISRO has played a vital role in benefiting the society and has brought in the societal transformation.

Evolution of Space technology – A glimpse

Since inception, the Indian space programme has been orchestrated well and had three distinct elements such as, spacecrafts for communication and remote sensing, the space transportation system and application programmes.

Sixties and seventies were the formative years of ISRO, when the efficacy of space systems as an alternative or complement to conventional terrestrial systems/ approaches was studied. The Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) using the American ATS satellite, Satellite Telecommunication Experimental Project (STEP) using the Franco-German Symphony satellite and utilisation of LANDSAT imageries of Indian land mass form as forerunners to today’s application programs. The first Indian spacecraft Aryabhata was developed during this period and was launched using a Soviet Launcher. Assessment of the space systems for user community using foreign space systems, configuring the ground systems as well as the development of enabling indigenous technologies in multiple disciplines and their integration were the essence of these initial efforts.

Another major landmark was the development of the first launch vehicle SLV-3 with a capability to place 40 kg in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which had its first successful flight in 1980. Through the SLV-3 programme, competence was built up for the overall vehicle design, mission design, material, hardware fabrication, solid propulsion technology, control power plants, avionics, vehicle integration checkout and launch operations. Development of multistage rocket systems with appropriate control and guidance systems to orbit a satellite on our own was a major landmark in our space programme.

In the experimental phase during 80’s, end-to-end capability demonstration was done in the design, development and in-orbit management of space systems together with the associated ground systems for the users. Bhaskara-I & II missions were pioneering steps in the remote sensing area whereas Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE) became the forerunner for future communication satellite system. Development of the complex Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), also demonstrated newer technologies like use of strapon, bulbous heat shield, closed loop guidance and digital autopilot. This paved the way for learning many nuances of launch vehicle design for complex missions, leading the way for realisation of operational launch vehicles such as PSLV and GSLV.

During the operational phase in 90’s, the major space infrastructure has been created broadly under two classes: one for the communication, broadcasting and meteorology through a multi purpose Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), and the other for Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) system. The development and operationalisation of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and development of Geo- synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) were significant achievements during this phase.

The major technologies that evolved during the PSLV realisation were the development of maraging steel, larger solid boosters using indigenous HTPB propellant, use of liquid propulsion systems in a major way, fabrication technology for realising bigger motor cases, light alloy structures etc. Similarly, for the GSLV, use of Cryogenic propulsion as the upper stage for better vehicle performance was a major technological achievement. Though, the stage was procured from Russia, total avionics system for the cryogenic stage was realised by ISRO. The realisation of the cryogenic propellant handling system for storage and feeding the propellants was a significant development. Through the development of PSLV and GSLV, ISRO has acquired the most powerful rocket motors of world class using both solid and liquid propulsion system, state of the art control systems, redundant strap down inertial navigation systems, digital autopilot and onboard computers carrying out close loop guided injection of the spacecraft in precise orbits. Parallely, indigenous development of cryogenic engine was also completed very recently.

Societal needs of our country

In our country, nearly 700 million people live in about 600,000 villages. However, not much has changed in most of the villages. They continue to depend on agriculture for much of their sustenance. They are also the homes to the largest number of poor, marginalized, illiterates and malnourished in the country. What deprive them to grow is lack of the basic amenities and services, especially those related to education, health and empowerment. What is needed is an interactive solution enabling them - to have a say in what they do and how they grow; to have access to the newer opportunities and to provide them right technology and information they need to improve overall quality of life. Thus the greatest challenge lies in transforming the Rural India, which is characterized by low literacy and large school drop outs due to livelihood compulsions; constrained access to health services; lack of knowledge diffusion in agriculture; growing vulnerability to the natural disasters etc. In pursuit of the country’s effort to have creative solutions to start a revolution which can take its villages fast forward in time - converting them into economically viable units and growth engines, harnessing the power of the villagers, and opening up new horizons with the promise of a better tomorrow, space technology has to be used as a strategy. Added to this, the role of space technology becomes more critical and challenging in the extremes of the social, economic and cultural diversities our country is characterized with.

Established Space Assets

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made remarkable progress towards building the space infrastructure - as the community resource to leapfrog the developmental processes.
The Indian National Satellite system, INSAT is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems with a present complement of 7 satellites providing services through nearly 150 transponders. While INSAT system continues to provide regular services in the areas of telecommunications, business communication, broadcasting and meteorological services, several initiatives have been taken to expand the application of INSAT to newer areas like Tele-medicine, and Tele-education which are covered in more detail in the later part of the lecture. Use of INSAT for e-governance and developmental communication is also fast expanding. The INSAT system has extended the outreach to less accessible areas like North- East and the islands.

The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite system, IRS has the largest civilian constellation of remote sensing satellites today providing data in variety of spatial resolutions and spectral bands. The data is used for various applications in the fields of agriculture, forestry, ground and surface water, drought assessment and monitoring, flood mapping, land use and coastal studies. The data from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellites are also utilized, by worldwide ground stations providing commercial benefits.
Initial launches of IRS and all the INSAT launches so far have been carried out using procured launchers. Considering the need for achieving self –reliance in accessing space, ISRO has initiated a programme for development of rocket systems. Such technologies were not available from any quarter and thus it demanded setting up of laboratories and pooling our own efforts in developing the different disciplines. Today, we have totally realized them and have two operational launchers, PSLV and GSLV, towards meeting the launch requirements of remote sensing satellites in low earth orbit and communication satellites of 2 tonne class into Geo- synchronous transfer orbit.

The dissemination of space applications in the country has primarily been routed through a triad comprising government, industry and academia. In recent times, ISRO is also developing partnership with NGOs in the pursuit to reach out down the line rural community. We have a well-knit institutional arrangements to integrate the space applications emanating from the INSAT and IRS systems towards societal development.

Space applications towards societal development

The earth observation and communication satellites have demonstrated their capabilities to provide the services relating to land and water resources management, weather, health care, education etc which are relevant at community / village level.

Natural resources management

The IRS systems, workhorse for major earth observation applications in the country, have made considerable impact in the areas of natural resources management, environment monitoring, disaster management and infrastructure development. Several earth observation based national missions such as Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, Wasteland Mapping, Watershed Monitoring Projects, Satellite based Potential Fishery Zone assessment etc have provided valuable input for the policy, developmental planning, monitoring and evaluation process.

Earth Observation (EO) satellites, by virtue of capturing the variability, vulnerability and dynamism of the diverse ecosystems, provide the operational inputs to the decision-making, leading to the natural resources management. The strength of EO and Geographic Information System (GIS) lies in unfolding the various linkages and the underlying factors that exist between the state of natural resources and the livelihood opportunities of the stakeholders. The EO and GIS, therefore, provide the valuable scientific insights into the factors contributing to the status of society vis-à-vis management of natural resources and ecosystems.

Some of the newer applications that have emerged in recent times through the utilization of space-based systems are in the field of Tele- education and Tele- medicine.





Tele-education

While the educational institutions of the country have continuously endeavored to use the satellite-based connectivity to support the process of education, the demands have been increasing, with the challenge of the day being to stay updated with the changing trends. To support the growing demand, ISRO has recently launched ‘EDUSAT’ with its own launch vehicle (GSLV) – a satellite exclusively dedicated to cater to the educational sector. This satellite provides six C- Band and one Ku- Band national beam and five Ku- Band regional beams facilitating imparting of education in the regional languages. EDUSAT, through digital connectivity, strengthens education efforts by creating virtual interactive classrooms at far away places augmenting curriculum-based teaching, providing effective teacher training and community participation, increasing access to education and to newer technologies through a effective ground segment configuration. ISRO has already taken up several initiatives on a pilot basis to ensure utilization of EDUSAT. Through the concept of Tele-education, the teaching expertise in metros is made available to those in far-flung areas.

Telemedicine

Another important initiative has been made in the field of Tele-medicine, which enables expert consultancy of specialized doctors from larger cities available to patients in remote areas. Under the Tele-medicine project, hospitals / health centre’s in remote locations are linked via INSAT satellites with super specialty hospitals. Tele-medicine pilot projects are undertaken by ISRO for technology demonstration with the involvement of super specialty hospitals and health centres in remote areas.
With larger requirements of the different States, the Telemedicine system configured for the ISRO’s Telemedicine project initially started with “point to point” system between the patient end, which is a general hospital located in a district/town and expert doctors end which is a speciality hospital situated in a city. Subsequently the need for Server/Browser based Telemedicine system was evolved for multipoint connectivity and the same is adopted for multipoint connectivity between remote and rural hospital and Super Speciality Hospital located in different Towns/Cities.

The Tele-medicine network at present has 100 hospitals in rural and remote areas including the North- east, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep and J&K connected to 24 specialty hospitals in major cities.

Disaster Management Support

Disaster management support, in terms of space based critical infrastructure and services, is yet another community centric deliverable. The space based Disaster Management Support (DMS) systems have been built upon organizing the following elements: (i) databases warehousing, (ii) technological tools – air-& space borne remote sensing & other conventional techniques, (iii) modeling – GIS, stochastic and other simulations, (iv) emergency communications systems. The DMS programme of ISRO/DOS, a convergence of space communications and remote sensing capabilities, is an effort to have technologically robust and a compatible system, which could strengthen India’s resolves towards disaster management.

Space enabled Village Resource Centre (VRC’s)

Adding another dimension to the effective use of space enabled services for societal benefit has been the initiative of ISRO in creating a new concept called Village Resource Centre. ISRO has piloted several socially relevant space applications projects on mission mode basis. With the appropriate technological and institutional base, ISRO has taken up newer social missions, wherein space applications could be integrated with other IT and e-governance related services and brought closer to the community. The effort has now focused on to effectively disseminate the portfolio of services emanating from the space systems – such as tele-education, tele-medicine, natural resources management, participatory watershed development, disaster management and local weather services, as well as from other Information Technology (IT) tools, directly down the line to the rural communities. ISRO’s initiative on Space enabled Village Resource Centre (VRC) is an effort in that direction.

The experience gained in conceptualising and executing the various communication and earth observation based projects in the past has enabled ISRO in setting up of VRC, in partnership with concerned State & Central agencies and NGOs. The VRCs, aimed at serving essentially as Community Resource and addressing the dynamic and critical needs of rural communities in the most efficient ways are planned to be set up in selected backward, distant, remote, and vulnerable areas. Technologically, VRC is based on the concept that the satellite bandwidth, enabling tele-medicine/ tele-education services, could be multi-tasked to disseminate a variety of other relevant community-centric services, including those emanating from space applications. Eventually, with the increased involvement of the villagers, the VRCs would also be able to facilitate e-Governance at local levels.

Two facets of VRC have been envisaged. One is Governmental domain, wherein access to information/ decision support is provided to the functionaries of the Government at various levels. The second is the public domain, where information and services are accessed by community themselves. Bascically, it is a two-tier system - to be enabled through approriate network and hierarchical database design to produce the target portfolio of services.

Conclusion

The uniqueness of our space programme lies in developing complex technology systems involving multidisciplinary expertise without losing sight of the societal relevance. Today, we are one among the few nations in the world with established capabilities in the frontier area of space. The intense developmental activities in the country has made India self-reliant in many aspects of building spacecrafts and launching them by our own rocket systems and conceiving application programmes which benefit the common man. In the process, we have set-up a sound base in-house as well as in the Indian industries, National laboratories and academic institutions for the development of various space products. Some of the newly launched space enabled innovative missions of ISRO would strengthen India’s pursuit in bridging the societal divides and taking the benefits of technological developments to improve the quality of life of common man and make the mother earth a better place to live in.