ISRO inaugrates space tracking antenna

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October 17, 2008 20:48 IST

As the countdown is set to begin for the October 22 moon mission, the 32-metre antenna, part of the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) that will track Chandrayaan-1 lunar spacecraft through its historic odyssey, was inaugurated on Friday by Indian Space Research Organisation chairman G Madhavan Nair.

The antenna system installed at Byalalu, 40 kms from Bengaluru, would provide telemetry, command and scienctific data reception functions for the upcoming mission, as well as such ventures in future, officials said.

The antenna was designed and commissioned by Hyderabad-based Electronics Corporation of India Limited at a cost of Rs 65 crore, ECIL's chairman and managing director K S Rajasekhara Rao told a press conference.

"The challenge of realising this fully steerable 300-ton structure has been achieved in record time using indigenous technical skills," Rao said. "The antenna system meets geographic features and radio frequency requirements."

ECIL has closely collaborated with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) and ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) while drawing upon the strength of various industry partners, officials said.

The antenna system consists of a 32-metre diameter parabolic main reflector in 'cassegrain configuration'. The paraboloid reflector is illuminated by a series of precision machined mirrors arranged in beam waveguide configuration.

The antenna would support inter-planetary missions in future. Other features are five-axis sub-reflector positioner for gravity droop compensation and a state-of-the-art servo control system.

The antenna system operates in S and X bands and can be upgraded to Ka band for future deep space missions.

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