New ISRO chief interview: ‘We will have 3 uncrewed missions (before humans can go to space), of which first may be this year’

On the day he would have completed seven years as the director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Narayanan spoke to The Indian Express about his journey and the space agency’s key upcoming missions.

Could you tell us a little about your journey to the top of India’s space agency?

I come from a very humble background. It was a great blessing that my parents gave me the opportunity to continue my education at a time when most children from my village used to drop out much earlier. Of course, I was doing well academically and even secured the first rank in my school. My father then asked somebody what I should be doing next. They said that a diploma from the polytechnic college was sure to get me a job.

After joining the course, I realised that I should have gone for an engineering course. Nonetheless, I continued studying and again secured the first rank. I was also fortunate to get a campus appointment. But then I had to decide whether to join the job or continue my education. While my father wanted me to continue my studies, there was a problem of finances, so I took the job. I was upset though.

It was a great blessing that my parents gave me the opportunity to continue my education at a time when most children from my village used to drop out much earlier.

So, when did you realise that aerospace engineering was your calling?

I was just trying to get a government job. I started out at TI Cycles, then Madras Rubber Factory, and finally Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, before joining ISRO. Once I joined ISRO, however, I thought I must complete my engineering at the earliest. By God’s grace, I was able to complete my PhD from IIT Kharagpur and start my journey with the cryogenic programme.

You have worked with the biggest rockets in India. Now, we are working on an even bigger Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) and the cabinet approved a new launch pad for it recently. Could you tell us about the significance of both?

We had the first launch of SLV-3 (an experimental rocket called Satellite Launch Vehicle) in 1979 and the first successful one in 1980. The capability of that vehicle was 35 to 40 kgs to low earth orbit. We have come a long way and developed six generations of launchers. And now, we are working on the seventh generation NGLV. It will have the capability of carrying 30,000 kgs to low earth orbit; our current capacity with the Bahubali Mark III (LVM3, previously called GSLV MK-III) rocket is around 8,500 kgs.

When you look at the future programmes, we will have to have high capabilities.

The configuration of the vehicle will be very different. The NGLV will be 91 metres high — almost as tall as a 30-storey building — against 43 metres for Mk III. It will have a propellant tank of 5-metre diameter instead of the 4-metre we currently use. Its lift-off mass will be 1.5 times of the vehicles today.

It will be a three-stage vehicle with a new propulsion system, using liquid oxygen and methane as fuel. The first stage will have 450 tonnes of liquid propellant powered by nine clustered engines, each generating 110 tonnes of thrust. The second stage will have 120 tonnes of propellant powered by two engines. It will use the third version of the cryogenic engine under development called C32. The upper stage will be cryogenic stage C32, the third version of which is currently being developed. There will also be two solid strap-ons.

Keeping low-cost access to space in mind, we will recover the first stage and reuse it. Initially, we are looking at reusing it 15 to 20 times. Once it’s completely developed, we will fully understand the capability of the vehicle and take a call on how many times it can be reused. Currently, the configuration is completed, design is in progress. Also, this vehicle will be developed along with private industries. The industries are going to invest in facilities for manufacturing and production.

It will be a totally different level of capability, as you can imagine.

And what about the launch pad?

Today, we have two launch pads — one meant for PSLV vehicles, another for GSLV-MkII and LVM3 and, of course, if required it can be used for PSLV also. Now, there is a lot of demand for LVM3 launches, around six to eight vehicles a year because of commercial launches. To enhance the launch capability, we need to have another launch pad. Also, if something happens to this launch pad, we do not have anything else. We would also require a launch pad for the upcoming NGLV. Plus, the Prime Minister has already given directions for a crewed mission to the moon for which we need a new launch pad. So, in all the way, we need to have one more launch pad.

Another exciting mission for ISRO is the first human spaceflight. Where are we when it comes to the Gaganyaan mission?

Right now, I can say, the human rating of the vehicle is almost complete. We have done enough tests for all three stages of the launch vehicle. Then, we have done a couple of tests with respect to the crew escape system, but a lot more tests have to be done. As for the environment control and life support system, 600 to 700 control components have been acquired, such as pressure controls, temp controls, humidity controls.

Work is also ongoing on the vehicle health monitoring system. If anything happens to the launch vehicle, it will automatically trigger the crew escape system.

Of course, humans cannot be sent in the very first mission, so we will have three uncrewed missions, of which the first may be scheduled for this year, maybe in the second quarter.

India is also working on two missions to the moon, our own Chandrayaan-4 and LUPEX with Japan. Can you tell us the difference between the two missions and what stage they are at?

The LUPEX mission will actually be like Chandrayaan-3, where we will have a lander and a rover. But these will be much heavier. Our Chandrayaan-3 rover weighed only 25 kg but for this mission, it would be 250 kg. For that, we have to develop new propulsion systems and engines.

In Chandrayaan-4, we have to land and bring back samples. Currently, configuration has been completed, and the design phase is nearing completion.

What would be the next priority areas for ISRO?

We have been given a clear roadmap already. The 100th launch of ISRO is planned for later this month. It would be of NVS-02, the second satellite in the second generation of navigation satellites. Then, a PSLV completely manufactured by the industry is also in the final phase. We are going to have a launch of that. Then, of course, there are a lot of requirements for satellites in the country in terms of communication, navigation, and earth observation.

Since we need to have a lot of satellites — currently we have 56 satellites in orbit – ISRO cannot do it alone. So, we will see more participation from the private sector. The PM has rolled out the reforms in the space sector and now it is our responsibility to handhold the private sector.