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Abstract: The mission of the COMPASS-1 picosatellite is to take pictures of the earth, to validate a space-borne GPS receiver developed by the German Aerospace Center, and to verify the proper operation of the magnetic attitude control system in orbit. The spacecraft was launched on April 28, 2008 from the Indian space port Sriharikota, as part of the PSLV-C9 world record launch that simultaneously brought ten satellites into orbit. The mission operations were carried out from the ground stations in Aachen and Tainan. Arising difficulties in the communication link were overcome with the support of individuals from the amateur radio community. After several months of mission operation, abundant housekeeping and mission data has been commanded, received and analyzed and is presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: India’s first Moon mission Chandrayaan-1 carrying eleven scientific instruments for the purpose of expanding scientific knowledge about the Moon was launched on 22 October 2008. The spacecraft was put into Moon’s polar, circular orbit of about (100×100)km on 12 November 2008 by carrying out a sequence of Earth bound and Lunar bound maneuvers. Precise orbit determinations are carried out during each phase of the mission using tracking data collected from network of tracking stations configured for the mission. The determined orbital solutions are used for spacecraft navigation, mission planning and science data processing. ISRO’s operational orbit determination program (ODP) used for low earth missions was suitably updated and validated before the launch of Chandrayaan-1. The purpose of this paper is to describe the methodology and the performance of Chandrayaan-1 orbit determination system during initial phase of the mission along with achieved orbit determination accuracy in the early normal phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recognizes the importance of the current space debris scenario, and the impact it has on the effective utilization of space technology for the improvement in the quality of life on the Earth. ISRO is committed to effective management of the threats due to space debris. Towards this commitment ISRO works on different aspects of space debris, including the debris mitigation measures. This paper highlights the activities and achievements in the implementation of the mitigation measures. ISRO successfully designed and developed a propellant venting system for implementation in the existing upper stage of India''s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which uses Earth-storable liquid propellants. GSLV also employs passivation of the Cryogenic Upper Stage at the end of its useful mission. ISRO''s communication satellites in GSO are designed with adequate propellant margins for re-orbiting at the end of their useful life to a higher graveyard orbit. A typical successful operation in connection with INSAT-2C is described. ISRO developed its debris environmental models and software to predict the close approach of any of the debris to the functional satellites. The software are regularly used for the debris risk management of the orbiting spacecraft and launch vehicles. ISRO recognizes the role of international cooperation in the debris mitigation measures and actively contributes to the efforts of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) and United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]