PERSPECTIVE OF A CHEMICAL ENGINEER IN SPACE PROGRAMME

Dr. Manjari Rajan, Head CPCC, VSSC Trivandrum

Introduction

Space activities in India started in a modest way in a small Church Building near the seacoast of Thumba, Trivandrum in the year 1963 fructifying the great vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai.  Since then, the Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, has grown in leaps & bounds and now occupies the pride of place as the leading Research Organisation in space activities under the present able leadership of Dr K. Kasturirangan, Chairman, ISRO.  Over the last three and half decades, ISRO has developed satellite and launch vehicle technology and has  succeeded in nation wide utilization of these technology for communication, weather forecasting,  education, disaster warning and management of natural resources. Now, ISRO is capable of rendering commercial launch services and leasing out transponders.  

ISRO has a multidisciplinary set up covering wide spectrum of Engineering  & Scientific disciplines.   It has a talented team of engineers, scientists, administrative and other supporting staff numbering around 16,000 distributed in 13 Centres/Units spread over the length and breadth of India.  Around 16% of ISRO's staff strength is women employees.  

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, VSSC, is the lead research centre of ISRO engaged in development of launch vehicle and spacecraft subsystems.  Launch vehicle development is highly complex requiring competence in a wide range of technical fields.  Because of the strategic nature of various elements and non-availability  of  technologies, it became necessary to build indigenous capabilities in many areas related to solid propellants, chemicals, materials and cryogenic systems.   

Beginning with the development of a family of sounding rockets to carry out space science experiments, VSSC developed its first satellite launch vehicle SLV-3 in 1982, capable of orbiting a modest 40kg satellite in a low earth orbit.  This was soon followed by the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle, ASLV, capable of carrying 150kg satellite into a low earth orbit aimed at validation of technologies needed for operational launch vehicles.  With the operationalisation of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV, capable of placing one tonne class of satellites into Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit and the successful maiden flight of Geo-synchronous Launch Vehicle, GSLV, capable of launching INSAT class of satellites into Geo-synchronous Orbit India has become self-reliant in Rocket Technology.  Supporting the projects, SLV-3, ASLV, PSLV & GSLV, are specialized R&D groups in the areas of Avionics & Mission Dynamics, Solid Propulsion & Space Ordnance, Propellants & Chemicals, Mechanical Engineering, Light weight Structures & Composites and a host of related technologies. 

ISRO centres have a unique work culture, which has a major role to play in the success of many of its programmes.  Openness in technical debates and fora, good interpersonal relationships spread over all levels, minimum bureaucratic interference and close interactions between various working groups are hallmarks of ISRO management approach.  Review mechanisms with wide participation and non-hierarchical approach to problem solving have enabled the centers to create congenial atmosphere in technical interactions.

VSSC, located around Thumba village and picturesque Veli hills near Trivandrum,  from its inception,  has in its roles women making a major impact in the development of many of  the  above  technologies.  

Women  Scientists  and Engineers  started  entering  this  field  in  the late sixties.  They  are occupying  very  important   positions    in  the  organizational structure and have contributed in many crucial and advanced fields.  Women engineers have contributed immensely in software development, electronics and chemical engineering areas. As a Chemical Engineer, I feel proud to be associated with this organization from the year 1971 onwards.  Now, I would like to bring to the attention of this august body, glimpses of my contributions during 30 years of my service in ISRO.  

Spectrum of Activities  

I joined the Rocket Propellant Plant of VSSC in 1971 when the plant was engaged in the development of composite solid propellant for various launch vehicleprogrammes.  At this juncture, I would like to fondly remember late Padmasree MR Kurup, who was my first boss and who gave me maximum encouragement and support during my younger days of employment.  The seventieswere  a period of learning for many who joined VSSC along with me.  The formative years of VSSC saw many developments in a wide spectrum  of  areas.  The SLV-3 project was initiated at that time and Dr. Abdul Kalam, late Dr Srinivasan and our present Director, Padmabhushan Shri G Madhavan Nair were at the helm of affairs and Thumba was like a freshly built beehive bubbling with activities.  The development of PBAN-based solid propellant was an important element in the SLV-3 programme and I was very much associated with testing and characterisation of this propellant.

Parallely, RPP was engaged in sounding rocket programme and it developed PVC propellants for the same.  These propellants were required to be properly characterized for their properties and I could develop intricate test procedures and methods for the first time in India.   

These activities continued for a period of 10 years and my eagerness to foray into other aspects of solid propellants gave me an opportunity to work on another interesting field,  the flow behaviour of propellant slurries, scientifically termed as `Rheology'.  

When the PSLV programme was initiated, there was a need for development of a better, higher energy propellant.  The unstinted efforts put by chemists and chemical engineers resulted in the development HTPB resin and HTPB propellants, which presently form the workhorse solid propellants in our PSLV and GSLV programmes.  With the development of this world-class propellant, I am proud to say that we have reached at the zenith of solid propellant technology.  The flow behaviour and associated complex rheological properties of propellant slurry was a challenge.  I took up the job of characterizing this propellant for its flow behaviour and mechanical properties.  

My desire to get exposed to more challenging tasks in management of multi-disciplinary projects, gave me an opportunity to head the Project  Management  Group  of  Solid  Motors  Project.  During this period, all the solid propulsion systems for PSLV programme were realized as per the schedule based on modern methods of planning, reviewing, scheduling and budgeting.  After getting an exposure of project management, I switched over to another important area viz Quality Management of Composite materials and structures and I am presently heading the Composites Process Control & Characterisation, CPCC Division of Composites Group.  Composites are indispensable structural materials used widely in launch vehicles and spacecrafts because of their lightweight and high strength-to-weight ratio.  VSSC is the lead Centre in the development of many advanced composite materials and structures.  I am happy to be associated in this area during the last phase of my carrier. 

During the whole of my career, I am satisfied with the challenges and opportunities presented to me by my superiors and the encouragement and support by my colleagues.  

In this connection, I would like to highlight the essence emerged out of the Seminar conducted recently at VSSC under the aegis of  ISRO on "The Role of  Women in Indian Space Programme" , WINS 2001, (i) There is no discrimination based on sex at any level in ISRO (ii) Equal opportunities are available for both men and women  and (iii) The general satisfaction level of Women Employees are quite high in this organization. 

Conclusion  

In the context of strong criticism on the Space Programme of a poor developing country like India, Dr Vikram Sarabhai said in 1968: "Ten to twenty years from now, when the population of India would be somewhere between 750 and 1,000 million, it can hardly be controversial that we would need a very strong base of Science and Technology, of industry and agriculture, not only for our economic well-being but for our national integration and for ensuring our security in the world....We must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the problems of man and society".  Dr Sarabhai's vision has now been fulfilled.  I am happy to be associated with Indian Space Programme. What I am today, I fully owe to my father, whose support and encouragement has enabled me to stand on my on feet.