- Spacecraft Mission Operations-SMOPS-2023 conference concludes on a high-note encompassing a broad scope of topics related to Space Exploration
- Event organised by the Indian Space Agency, ISRO in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), along with industry partners
- Distinguished speakers from various space agencies and offices such as ISRO, IN-SPACE, ESA, CNES, NASA, DLR, and ROSCOSMOS presented their insights
- The primary objective of the conference was to establish connections and foster collaboration between space agencies, start-ups, industry professionals, and academia
Bengaluru, June 11. The two day International Conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations (SMOPS-2023) concluded on Friday in Bengaluru and was organised by the ISRO in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), along with industry partners.
The objective of the conference was to facilitate discussions among space agencies, start-ups, industry professionals, and academia regarding emerging technologies and automation in space mission operations and ground segments.
During the conference, a wide range of topics were covered, including space mission operations management, advanced space mission design, automation, management of large constellations, and current and future trends in ground station operations.
Distinguished speakers from various space agencies and offices such as ISRO, IN-SPACE, ESA, CNES, NASA, DLR, and ROSCOSMOS presented their insights on these subjects.
Other important topics addressed at the conference included human spaceflight mission operation management, challenges in flight dynamics operation, space situational awareness, simulation and modelling, the application of artificial intelligence in space, and satellite data handling, processing, and applications.
The primary objective of the conference was to establish connections and foster collaboration between space agencies, start-ups, industry professionals, and academia. The event aimed to bring together leaders in the field to exchange ideas on existing technologies and the challenges they pose, while also providing a glimpse into state-of-the-art technologies being developed globally to enhance the security and reliability of space mission operations.
The conference encompassed a broad scope of topics related to mission operations management, advanced mission design, automation, management of large constellations, and current and future trends in ground station operations. It also explored futuristic techniques in both upstream and downstream segments of the space industry.
The conference served as a platform to promote synergy between start-ups, academia, industry professionals, and space agencies, fostering collaboration and providing opportunities for users to interact with service providers. It offered a valuable forum for stakeholders to share their expertise and contribute to the advancement of space mission operations.
Somanath, who earlier in the day inaugurated the first edition of Spacecraft Mission Operations (SMOPS-2023)conference with a theme “emerging technologies and automation in space mission operations and ground stations ETAGS)”, said that while a lot of attention is given to rockets and satellites, ground segment and mission operations-tracking satellites, conducting manouvers to raise their orbits, ensuring their performance and so on — are equally critical and present lucrative business opportunity.
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre(IN-SPACe) chairman Pawan Goenka, echoing Somanath’s views also reiterated how India’s new space policy, which virtually opens up all doors for the private sector, could be a great enabler for non-governmental enterprises to tap into the mission operations and ground segment sector.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath on a question from R. Anil Kumar, India Strategic, during the Media Conference, on the proposed Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), said a big team from the space agency was working on the Next Generation Launch Vehicle, and that the architecture for the same has been finalised.
“The preliminary report has been submitted by the team which elaborates on what the rocket should look like — the technological input, approaches to be followed, where it should be done, what kind of manufacturing, etc. We want it to be at least partially (the boosters) reusable, it should use the new generation propulsion, have cryogenic propulsion in case we need to improve payload and it must be manufactured using the materials currently available in India”, he said.
The cost should be brought down, industry should be looked at for the manufacturing cycle,” Somanath said.
He added that industry will be consulted during the process to discuss partnership. “NSIL will be responsible for this and if they [industry] are willing, they will be on-board to be a share- holder, partner in this process where they get to be a responsible partner in designing and manufacturing.
ISRO will handhold them through this and even create a business model to ensure enough funding is available,” he said.
Stating that the rocket will eventually be offered as a commercial launch vehicle for both governmental and other launch vehicles, it may take long duration given that new rocket development is a long-drawn process. But the good thing is that ISRO has all the facilities to straight away get into this. This means that we only need to spend money on making the rocket and not invest on anything else, which is an advantage.
When it was first announced, Somanath had said NGLV will be “cost conscious, production friendly, which can be built in India and operated globally”.
