January 25, 2024

The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), (an autonomous institution under the Department of Space), is an institute of excellence for education and research in Space Technology, Space Science and Space Application. IIST offers specialized courses in Avionics & Aerospace Engineering and Applied Sciences starting from undergraduate to doctoral and postdoctoral programmes. IIST enjoys close links with ISRO Centres and Units for the use of facilities and research materials.

In the recent PSLV C-58 XPoSat mission launched on the new year day, IIST played a pivotal role in extending telemetry and telecommand support to the space start-up Dhruva Space. The POEM orbiting platform of PSLV C58 has 9 payloads including LEAP-TD from Hyderbased based space start-up Dhruva Space.

Dhruva Space, Hyderabad, a pioneer among space startups in India working in the area of small satellite systems development, has developed a payload called LEAP-TD for technology demonstration of key systems including telemetry telecommand modules in addition to many other subsystems.

Small-satellite and payloads need tracking for telemetry and telecommand by a reliable Ground Station typically in VHF, UHF and S-band. For this purpose IIST has established a ground station which is fully developed and supported by student/staff of IIST and guided by talented professors and experts from ISRO centers. In this regard, four LEO missions, InspireSat1 satellite and POEM payloads PILOT, ARIS-1, ARIS-2 have been developed and launched from IIST. Multiple futuristic satellites and payloads for science exploration and technology demonstration are being developed by students. In this way IIST is creating industry ready students with knowledge of cutting-edge technologies in the space sector.

Success of any satellite mission lies with the communication from ground for telemetry and telecommand. In this IIST played a pivotal role through Small-spacecraft Systems and PAyload CEntre (SSPACE), Ground Station tracking systems including antenna and RF systems for Telemetry and Telecommand operations round the clock. IIST has provided ground support to satellites including InspireSat1, InspireSat2, InspireSat4 and POEM payload on PSLV C53, and PSLV C58 mission.

The LEAP-TD payload in the POEM platform is in a ~350 km low earth orbit with an orbital period of around 94 mins. Out of five high elevation orbits per day of elevation greater than 30 degrees the orbital platform is visible over IIST for around 10 mins. During this time the ground station has to reliably track the satellite for receiving the telemetry and transmitting the telecommand.

A team of 8 members from Dhruva Space are in IIST to augment/adapt and operate the IIST Ground station for supporting the LEAP-TD payload launched in PSLV C58 on January 1, 2024. The teams from Dhruva Space and IIST have worked round the clock to configure the ground systems for adapting to the LEAP-TD telemetry and telecommand requirements.

IIST and Dhruva Space teams are operating the ground station which received the first beacon and telemetry from LEAP-TD on January 2nd when the payload was switched on for the first time. Since then the payload is being tracked by the ground station periodically and beacon/telemetry signals are being received and telecommand is being sent from the IIST ground station.

With this IIST has entered into the domain of services for reliable ground station tracking systems and small satellites providing opportunities for universities and space startups to exploit these facilities on a mutually agreeable basis. In today's world of rapidly advancing space technologies and aligning with the country’s goal IIST has started collaborating with Universities and Industries in building small satellites and payloads using innovative technologies for miniaturizing systems, improving performance, reducing cost and rapid deployment of space assets in space.