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Third largest hypersonic wind tunnel at VSSC
The newly installed facility at the VSSC will help develop space transportation systems.
Indigenously developed hypersonic wind tunnel and shock tunnel, the third largest in terms of size and simulation capability in the world, were commissioned at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) here on Monday.
Dedicating the facilities to the nation at a function at the VSSC complex, A. S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO, said they would provide adequate data for design and development of current and future space transportation systems.
“This proves the country’s capability in establishing world class facilities where in technology from outside is restricted or not available,” the ISRO chairman said. The facilities were dedicated to the memory of Satish Dhawan, a pioneer in the field. Mr. Kumar named the new facility Satish Dhawan Wind Tunnel Complex.
Director, VSSC, K. Sivan said although with the advent of powerful computers excellent modelling capabilities came into being, there was no replacement for wind tunnel testing for aerodynamic characterisation.
The development of these facilities posed design challenges in aero and thermo-mechanical areas, involved intricate engineering, demanded massive fabrication, utilised super- precision machining, and satisfied safety protocols.
The facility has 500 valves, 2 km of pipelines, 41 electric motors, 35 pumps, 320 instruments and 10 km of cables, according to ISRO.
Quelle: The Hindu
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Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre commissions world’s third largest wind tunnel
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre here has commissioned the world’s third largest hypersonic wind tunnel. Indian Space Research Organisation took up the challenging task of developing large hypersonic wind tunnel and shock tunnel to overcome the limitations of size and simulation capabilities. ISRO chairman and secretary of the department of space, A.S. Kiran Kumar, dedicated them on Monday in the presence of VSSC director Dr K. Sivan. As part of making continuous and concerted efforts to minimise the cost of access to space, ISRO is planning future missions such as reusable launch vehicles, two-stage to orbit air-breathing propulsion systems, human space flights. Aerothermodynamic characterization of these vehicles in hypersonic flow regime is very vital for optimum design and successful mission.
Aerospace vehicles fly much faster and often cross the speed of sound. Their re-entry into the atmosphere is at higher Mach numbers, modelling of which is quite intricate. “The commissioning of such facilities would provide adequate data for design and development of current and future space transportation systems in the country," said Mr Kumar. "The commissioning of the facility symbolises the country’s capability in establishing such world-class facilities where technology from outside is restricted or not available”.
The facilities were dedicated to the memory of Satish Dhawan, a pioneer in the field and named the facility as Satish Dhawan Wind Tunnel Complex. They are third largest in size and simulation capability in the world. All these facilities have been indigenously designed, developed and made in India with the support of Indian industries. Few critical technologies, which are under embargo, have been jointly developed by ISRO and industries for the realisation of these world class facilities. Renowned aerodynamicist in the country Prof Roddam Narasimha participated in the function and offered felicitation.
Quelle: DECCAN Chronicle
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ISRO commissions two major facilities at VSSC
The new facility would help aerodynamic characterisation of advanced space transportation systems.
ISRO on Monday commissioned two major facilities– a Hypersonic Wind Tunnel and Shock Tunnel– at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram as part of its continuous and concerted efforts to minimise cost of access to space. ISRO Chairman Kiran Kumar said commissioning of such facilities would provide adequate data for design and development of current and future space transportation systems in the country.
He said commissioning of the facility symbolises the country’s capability in establishing such world class facilities wherein technology from outside is restricted or not available.
The one meter Hypersonic Wind Tunnel and one meter Shock Tunnel have been established with a wide spectrum of simulation capabilities in terms of Mach number, Reynolds number and re-entry velocities, an official release said
These facilities, indigenously designed, developed and ‘Made in India’ with the support of Indian industries, are the third largest in terms of size and simulation capability in the world, it said.
A few critical technologies, which are under embargo, have been jointly developed by ISRO and industries for realisation of these facilities.
VSSC Director Sivan in his presidential address said though excellent modeling capabilities exists with the advent of powerful computers, there was no other replacement for wind tunnel testing for aerodynamic characterisation.
The new facility would help aerodynamic characterisation of advanced space transportation systems, he said.
The facilities were dedicated in the memory of Satish Dhawan, a pioneer in the field and named as the Satish Dhawan Wind tunnel Complex.
ISRO is planning future missions such as Reusable Launch Vehicles, Two Stage to Orbit, Air Breathing propulsion systems and Human Space Flight Programme, the release added.
Quelle: The Indian EXPRESS