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Defense must gain from India’s civilian space
program4
By NK Pant, Freelance Contributor
October 13, 2004
Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) flawless
lift off of power packed three-stage GSLV rocket with
the EDUSAT satellite as its sophisticated payload in
the later half of September 2002 heralds a new
eventful chapter in India’s outer space exploration
efforts. EDUSTAT was later successfully placed in
geo-stationary orbit at the height of 36,000
kilometres for beaming educational programs to
thousands of Indian students residing in inaccessible
areas yet keen on continuing with their schooling
through the process of distant learning. Justifiably
termed as a turning point in India’s space efforts,
the invaluable satellite, after the accompanying
ground based software and hardware is fully in place,
should prove to be immensely beneficial to a large
section of student community.
The previous successful launch of indigenously
developed GSLV-D2 was carried out nearly a year back
from Sriharikota Space Center when the launch vehicle
had placed nearly a two-ton GSAT-2 satellite in the
orbit. The accomplishment proved a clear betterment
over the first GSLV that had soared into the space in
April 2001. The Indian space scientists have also
perfected another smaller workhorse carrier Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to facilitate
launching of remote sensing and other scientific
payloads into lower sun-synchronous orbits with
conceivable strategic applications. In October 2003
PSLV rocket had injected Resource Sat-1 into
predetermined orbit 817 km above earth. These
successful launches prove beyond doubt ISRO’s
capability to design, fabricate and successfully
hurtle satellites into outer space for a variety of
applications ranging from development to nation’s
defense and security.
However, from defense point of view, remote sensing
satellites carry important dual use functions.
Equipped with sophisticated powerful cameras having a
resolution of one meter, the latest remote sensing
space vehicles send clear imageries for accurately
mapping the country in the field of natural resources
providing the planners vital inputs for development
activity. These not only transmit scientific data to
varied fields like forestry, mines, water resources,
agriculture, fisheries, weather forecasting, disaster
management so on and so forth but in addition also
provide much needed reconnaissance system and
operational planning assistance to our armed forces.
Nevertheless, the real importance of these civilian
satellites lies in their military applications –
capability to take high-resolution pictures of enemy’s
strategic and tactical positions across the
international borders thus helping the defense forces
to plan their moves.
The satellite will help in linking classrooms across
India. India has launched its first satellite to be
used for expanding the country's educational network.
It is indeed creditable to note that ISRO’s remote
sensing satellites have of late kept a close watch
over Tibet where recent land slides have created a
huge artificial lake in the Sutlej basin which if
breached could have caused unprecedented floods in
Himachal Pradesh. The possible alternate function of
these satellites can also be to keep an eye on
surreptitious Chinese troop, aircraft and missile
deployment in the Tibetan Autonomous Region enabling
our forces to take timely appropriate counter
measures. A well-entrenched civilian space program
also carries another strategic fringe benefit for
India’s security, as experts feel that a satellite
launch rockets can easily be adapted for military
purposes. Once the country fully develops proven and
dependable launchers like PSLV or GSLV to place
various kinds of satellites in near or distant space
orbits, these if needed, can also be easily modified
into intermediate or intercontinental range ballistic
missiles (IRBM or ICBM) to act as deterrents. For a
country like ours where funds are hard to come by,
this is the only way through which exorbitantly high
cost of the military missile system can be absorbed by
development of satellite launchers for civilian
applications. Incidentally India spends only $400
million yearly on its space program compared to
China’s $2.5 billion.
Presently GSLV is using cryogenic engines imported
from Russia as the indigenous engine is still under
development. Till India does not have its own
cryogenic engines and more powerful booster rockets,
it may not be able to place heavier communication
satellites in outer space. Incidentally, India’s
biggest rocket payload happens to be 3 tons as against
China’s 9.2 tons and hence the country apparently has
a long gap to cover. However, in medium launch
capability ISRO is doing quite well. That it has
reportedly secured a $10 million contract to launch a
satellite for the European Union using PSLV suggests
emergence of a gainful market for space launches. The
coming years will hopefully see India’s own upgraded
GSLV launchers placing much heavier INSAT and
successor spacecraft into geo-synchronous orbit which
may also carry some defense related payloads relating
to military surveillance and communications in
addition to commercial payloads.
The sophistry of modern high tech warfare and threat
perception call for a satellite exclusively catering
for the requirements of the military and the armed
forces are hopeful of getting one in near future. Not
only our surveillance capabilities call for
up-gradation but communication facilities linking the
military formations through out the length and breadth
of this vast country stretching from Kashmir to the
scattered Island territories also need to be enhanced.
The launching of EDUSAT onboard the latest GSLV rocket
not only would give big boost to India’s basically
development-oriented civilian space program but also
provide a helping hand to the nation’s defense
preparedness in view of the degenerated security
scenario in the South Asian region. As IGNOU gets
ready with its content to use EDUSAT to spread
education to the country’s remote corners, Army’s
Education Corps too must not miss this unique
opportunity to educate and update troops deployed in
inhospitable borders.
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