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SROSS

India's launch of SROSS-C (Stretche Rohini Satellite Series) on 20 May 1992 provided the nation with its first astrophysics observatory, albeit temporarily. The primary purpose of the flight was to test the ASLV launch vehicle which had failed on the two previous attempts. The SROSS-C was a payload of opportunity which carried a geophysics package and a gamma ray burst detector. The latter was tuned to the energy range of 20 keV-3 MeV and consisted of high voltage scintillation detectors. The observational program was concentrated on the southern celestial sky. Unfortunately, the 106-kg spacecraft decayed after only 55 days instead of an anticipated one year due to the less-than-nominal performance of the launch vehicle: an orbit of only 256 km by 435 km was achieved (References 255-257).

A replacement for SROSS-C, SROSS-C2, was successfully launched on 4 May 1994 and inserted into an orbit of 434 km by 921 km at an inclination of 46.0 degrees. The slightly heavier SROSS-C2 (113 kg total mass) was also equipped with a gamma ray burst detector. The new spacecraft also has a modest orbital maneuver capability which was used to lower apogee 300 km in July, 1994 (References 258-260).

255. All-India Radio, 28 May 1992.

256. Press Trust of India, 8 July 1992.

257. A. Lawler, "India Succeeds With Third ASLV Launch Attempts", Space News, 25-31 May 1992, p. 6.

258. All-lndia Radio, 4 and 5 May 1993.

259. V. Raghuvanshi, "India Lofts SROSS", Space News, 9-15 May 1994, p. 14.

260. V. Raghuvanshi, "Scientists Switch On SROSS-C2 Instruments, Space News, 16-22 May 1994, p. 8.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]
• SROSS A, B, C, C2 Stretched ROhini Satellite Series - Mike's Spacecraft Library

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