Small-Spacecraft systems and PAyload CEntre
Small-Spacecraft systems and PAyload CEntre
An interdisciplinary centre of for small spacecraft systems and payloads
Focused on Space Missions in collaboration with ISRO centers
Fosters student-led small satellite and payload projects at IIST
Small-Spacecraft Systems and Payload Centre (SSPACE) established at IIST is a central facility established for small satellite and payload projects, with active involvement from IIST faculty and ISRO centers.
SSPACE promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, subsystem specialization, and hands-on training with a system engineering perspective.
Students of IIST are highly benefited from this unique platform of comprehensive experiential learning that include unique opportunity of participation in ISRO space missions, which cater to the comprehensive development of Industry-ready skills in System Engineering, Space Science and Technology
SSPACE could establish official technical collaborations with many academic institutions, Startups, R&D organizations and Industries for collaborative moves in space research
Major Developments
Inhouse onboard computer (OBC) developed for small satellite missions
In house Electrical Power System (EPS) for small satellite missions
Indigenous monolithic 1U satellite structure designed for subtractive manufacturing and developed using machining route
Indigenous monolithic 3U Satellite structure designed for subtractive manufacturing and developed using machining route
Indigenous monolithic 1U satellite structure designed for additive manufacturing and developed using laser based- powder bed additive manufacturing
Advanced Retarding Potential Analyzer has been developed indigenously
SATELLITE GROUND STATION @ IIST
SATELLITE GROUND STATION @ IIST
An indigenously developed ground station & first of its kind in academic community across the country
The objective of IIST Satellite ground station is to carry out tracking, telemetry and commanding (TT&C) operations of student satellite missions. It also provides tracking and telemetry support for the stratospheric balloon borne payloads (Radiosonde experiments) launched periodically from Ponmudi Climate Observatory of IIST. The ground station facilitates learning and hands-on experience for students in the field of radio communication, satellite tracking, antenna positioning/control systems along with telemetry data visualization/processing, real-time commanding and mission operations.
A standalone VHF/UHF SDR Ground Station unit is also designed with the latest state of the art technologies like wideband SDR (Software Defined Radio) based MODEM and fully integrated network-based architecture.
Presently, the ground station is capable of providing TTC support to any Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite mission operating in VHF band: 144-146 MHz, UHF band: 434-438 MHz and S band: 2.2-2.4 GHz (on receive mode) of frequencies.
The mission control room of the ground station, located in the top floor of the Aerospace Engineering block, accommodates SDR-based Receivers, RF power amplifiers, Transmitters, Antenna controllers, Operator Consoles, Data storage, large display systems for real-time data visualization and RF subsystem test beds.
POEM MISSIONS
POEM
PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM)
FOUR Successful Space Experiments using PSLV POEM Platforms
ARIS 101F
PSLV C45-2019
PILOT
PSLV C55-2023
ARIS 201F
PSLV-C55- 2023
GRACE (PILOT -G2)
PSLV-C60-2024
ARIS
Advanced Retarding potential analyzer for Ionospheric Studies
ARIS (Advanced Retarding Potential Analyzer for Ionospheric Studies) is an ionospheric plasma and electrostatic instrument developed by IIST for the structural and compositional studies of the ionosphere.
ARIS 201F was successfully launched via the POEM platform of PSLV C55 on 22nd April 2023. ARIS 201F is an upgraded version of ARIS 101F which was flown to Earth’s ionosphere in 2019 as part of the PSLV C45 mission. Upgradations include indigenous and in-house-built sensors with high sensitivity and high energy resolution and optimised operating parameters to receive more data in the energy range relevant to the Earth ionosphere (based on data received from ARIS 101F). The payload uses a Dual-Retarding Potential Analyser (RPA) configuration, Ion-mode RPA (I-RPA) and Electron-mode RPA (E-RPA) along with four electronics cards (Pre-amplifier board, front-end electronics board, data acquisition board and power generation board).
PILOT (Pslv-In-orbitaLObc and Thermals)
The PILOT is a technology demonstration student payload designed for PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (PEOM). The main mission objectives were the following
To demonstrate the 3D printed metal structure performance for satellite related applications
To demonstrate the thermal simulation model with flight data acquired through sensors placed at strategic locations
To demonstrate the performance of the indigenously designed OBC along with the flight software developed for the mission. This OBC is expected to be used in the future missions from IIST
To demonstrate the indigenously developed RS485 telemetry communication with the POEM payload
INSPIRESat-1: The Student Satellite
INSPIRESat-1: The Student Satellite
InspireSat-1 was successfully launched on board the PSLV C52 mission on February 14, 2022 and is being successfully operated by the students of IIST from the IIST ground station with support from the INSPIRE partners including LASP, USA and NCU, Taiwan, and NTU, Singapore. The spacecraft had an expected mission life of 6 months, however it has continued to work for more than one year till date [07-03-2023] collecting valuable scientific data.
INSPIRESat-1 is a student satellite jointly developed by Small-spacecraft Systems and PAyload CEntre (SSPACE), Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, India, and Laboratory of Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA, to provide education and space science research to the students of the collaborating universities. Two other universities who contributed in this journey include NTU, Singapore and NCU, Taiwan.
PSLV - C52 , 2022
The main scientific aims of the INSPIRESat-1 mission are:
Improve the understanding of Ionosphere dynamics through observations of ion temperature, composition, density and velocity. This effectively means characterization of plasma parameters and irregularities in the low- and mid-latitude ionosphere.
Improve our understanding of the sun’s coronal heating processes by measuring the Soft X-Ray spectrum of the sun.”
The payloads are expected to capture data for scientific requirements in the polar low earth Orbit (LEO) of approximately 529 Km altitude. The science data is being shared online from the website of LASP, University of Colorado, Boulder.
INSPIRESat-1 is a 3-axis stabilized spacecraft carrying two payloads, the CIP and the DAXSS. The spacecraft weighs 8.38Kg with stowed dimensions = 312mm x 190mm x 221mm [during launch without the ring], and deployed dimensions = 535mm x 190mm x 450mm [in space]. The INSPIRESat-1 was environment tested and flight qualified in LASP. The spacecraft was integrated with the IIST ground station and launched by the PSLV.
IIST PONMUDI OBSERVATORY
IIST PONMUDI CLIMATE OBSERVATORY
The Ponmudi Climate Observatory of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST-PCO), located at the confluence point of the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal atop the southern end of Western Ghats (8.76°N, 77.12°E, 1.0 km, AMSL).
The IIST climate Observatory is primarily beneath the cloud layer influenced by the south-west and north-east monsoonal flows, serves as a natural laboratory for conducting high quality measurements of aerosol and cloud for an improved representation of aerosol-cloud interaction in climate models. A range of field instruments has been commissioned to measure aerosol and cloud microphysics, along with meteorological variables. Following rigorous quality checks, the data collected from these instruments can be disseminated to collaborating institutions, as well as national and international users, for climate studies. The observatory is also equipped balloon launch facility for research in space science and technological demonstration.
Electric Propulsion Research
Electric Propulsion Research
In view of ISRO’s future requirement of high thrust and high efficiency electric propulsion systems, an initiative was undertaken at IIST to establish necessary research infrastructure for future high thrust electric propulsion systems at LPSC, Valiamala.
For this the “High Thrust Electric Propulsion” project was formed as an inter-center project with LPSC as the lead center. IIST is collaborating in this project for the design, development, testing and implementation of the diagnostic tools necessary for the proper characterization of the Stationary Plasma Thruster (SPT) being developed by LPSC under this project
Development of Ion Sources for electric propulsion diagnosis
Two sources were developed in-house for testing and development purposes (a) Back diffusion plasma source and (b) Ion beam source. An electric thruster is known to produce both charge exchange ion clouds and ion beams, thus sources were developed to produce both the environments created by the thruster. An ion beam deflector was also built to maneuver the ion beam as required for calibration of the probes being developed. The sources also required various gas lines to bring the gas wherever necessary. The plasma source can also be tuned to produce plasma conditions similar to that of lower earth ionospheric conditions, hence making the facility as India’s only ionospheric plasma simulator. All the payloads that are to be taken to the lower earth atmosphere can hence be tested in this facility.
Rocket Development
Rocket Development
"Vyom" is the first student-designed sounding rocket, developed by the students of IIST, successfully launched with the support of ISRO from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thiruvananthapuram.
The rocket was designed for atmospheric research, carrying a tri-axis accelerometer as a payload to measure acceleration.
Vyom was designed to reach maximum altitude in 44 seconds and remain airborne for 116 seconds.
Vyom- IIST Student Rocket Project
Following the successful launches of the past editions of IIST student rocket ‘VyOM’, the student- faculty team of IIST has initiated another research on hybrid-rockets with following objectives;
Hybrid Rocket Propulsion Characterization
Recovery of the vehicle with deep throttling of the thrust
Rocket structures using composites and 3D printed components
Restartability & Recovery with Landing Legs
Retro-Propulsion
The above activity is initiated with the support of ISRO centres, especially VSSC, LPSC, IISU and CMSE.
Upcoming Space Missions
Upcoming Space Missions
| AHAN | Spacecraft with Geiger Muller Counter (GMC) as main payload to study the radiation counts at LEO. |
| ISAT2 | Spacecraft with Magnetic Gradiometry as main payload. |
| ISAT2 | Spacecraft to demonstrate navigation using pulsar stars in the X-ray band. |
| IDM | Integrated diagnostic module for Electric propulsion technology demonstration satellite |
| Space Biology Payload | Spaceflight induced changes in kidney stone formation in Drosophila fly. The payload proposed in first GAGANYAAN flight |
TEAM & CONTACTS
TEAM & CONTACTS
Dr. Priyadarshnam, Professor, Department of Avionics IIST, Head, SSPACE
Dr. V S Sooraj, Associate Professor, Department
of Aerospace, Dy Head, SSPACE
Dr. Sudharshan Kaarthik, Associate Professor, Department of Avionics, Dy. Head, SSPACE
Dr. Umesh R Kadhane, Professor, Department of Physics (Electric Propulsion)
Dr. P R Sinha, Associate Professor, Department of ESS (Climate Observatory)
Dr. V Aravind, Professor, Department of Aerospace (Rocket Projects)
