R Umamaheswaren was born in 1963, the same year that India initiated its space programme with the first-ever launch of a rocket into space from Indian soil. He is currently serving as the Scientific Secretary to the chairman. This was recorded at the IAC2018 (so a little noisy background). Audio and video available below.

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He first joined ISRO in 1987 as an avionics and communications engineer at the VSSC and has held several posts including

• Deputy director for the GSLV launch vehicle
• Mission director for 3 GSLV launches
• GSLV Mk3 to launch in November 2018 with high throughput satellites GSAT-29 to support the Digital India programme. A total of 100GBPS will be available from space once the other two satellites  are launched.

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Fundamental system and engineering challenges have been addressed and  India is ready for human spaceflight. ISRO conducted a Pad Abort Test on 5th July 2018 – Youtube video here. Currently, the roadmap looks like this

• Crew selection – discussion underway.
• Two uncrewed missions will take place – no animals required. Sensors and instruments will be sufficient.
• Astronaut training – under discussion. Astronaut training support will be required from a third country – yet to be announced. 
• Not necessary for potential applicants to be test pilots.
• Prospect for a female to be part of the first crew is “very high”.
• First uncrewed flight start in late 2020.
• A longer vision for Human Spaceflight –  priorities not yet defined.

S. Somnath joined the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala in 1985 and today he is its director. With more than three decades at ISRO, he has held several key posts, including director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. This episode is available in audio and video below.

This interview was recorded on 5th October 2018 in Bremen, Germany, during the IAC2018, so it is a little noisy in parts.

Some highlights include

• Satish Dhawan – Brought a new vision and restructured ISRO at the organisational level. He consolidated and integrated specialist centres throughout India into the national organisational structure that exists today.
• Only solid propellants are manufactured on site at Sriharikota. Liquid and cryogenic propellants are transported over a day and a half from ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Centre to Sriharikota. Currently, only roads are used, but sea transport may be an option in the future.
• The heavy-lift GSLV Mk3 second development flight is scheduled to launch before the end of 2018.  A target of three successful development flights is required before GSLV Mk3 is designated as operational.
• Currently, the Sriharikota launch capacity of 12 to 18 launches per year is determined by the industry’s capacity to manufacture launch vehicles. The private sector has all the technological competencies but lacks the capacity to deploy them. 
• An additional launch site would not be of value at this time. Once private sector capacity increases within the next 2 to 3 years, additional launch sites would be useful.
• VSSC played a key role in developing the technologies required for the Human Space Flight programme. The  Pad Abort Test was successful. The parachute detached at the planned time and not prematurely, as it looks in the video.

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