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FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3660
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RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 3608
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 2664
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
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RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 NEW DELHI 002641 
 
STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/STC, OES/SAT, OES/EGC, AND SCA/INS 
STATE FOR STAS 
STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS 
HHS PASS TO NIH 
STATE PASS TO USAID 
STATE FOR SCA, OES (STAS FEDOROFF); OES/PDAS/RHARNISH; OES/PCI 
STEWART; OES/IHB MURPHY; OES/GTHOMPSON 
STATE FOR EEB/DAVID HENRY 
PASS TO MAS/DAS/JESTRADA 
PASS TO MAC/DAS/HVINEYARD 
PASS TO NSF/MLUECK 
PASS TO NASA/OER (MCINTOSH/WILLIAMS/KAMM) 
SLUG TO DOE/DAS/JMIZROCH; DOE/MGINZBERG 
SLUG TO DOE/ (TCUTLER/GBISCONTI/CGILLESPIE) 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG TRGY SENV KGHG TSPL TNGD EIND KSCA ECON
SUBJECT: WITH THE UPCOMING LAUNCH OF "CHANDRAYAAN I" MOON MISSION, 
INDIA AIMS TO BE A GLOBAL PLAYER IN SPACE 
 
REF A :NEW DELHI 1257 
REF B: NEW DELHI 0433 
REF C: NEW DELHI 2278 
 
NEW DELHI 00002641  001.2 OF 008 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is 
poised to take on many ambitious projects with the aim of 
establishing broader international collaborations, developing novel 
technologies to meet social and economic development needs, and 
attracting and harnessing India's young talent in science and 
technology.  India tripled its space program budget to USD 10 
billion for the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period (2007-2012), which 
includes funding for two moon missions.  Scheduled for an October 22 
launch, "Chandrayaan I" will be a two-year-long mission consisting 
of eleven experiments to map and study resources on the moon's 
surface.  NASA developed two of the experiments, and is also 
exploring future collaborations with ISRO.  Antrix, ISRO's 
commercial arm, grew 20 percent last year and facilitated ISRO's 
launch of satellites for several countries.  ISRO's future plans 
include developing nano and pico satellites, launching satellites to 
study astronomy, the Sun, and Mars, and conducting a manned moon 
mission.  Import restrictions because of sanctions and a lack of 
qualified scientists and engineers are ISRO's key challenges.  End 
Summary.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Space Program, One of the Successful Indian Science and Technology 
Missions 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶2.  (U) The Indian space program which originated with India's 
participation in a US led international program for tracking 
satellites in the early 60s, has come a long way with over 18 
institutions under its fold.  Today India believes that it has 
complete indigenous technological capability for development of 
satellites and rockets and to launch them to meet its social and 
economic development aspirations.  The only area where ISRO feels it 
needs new technology development is semiconductor fabrication for 
fabrication of microchips to develop the associated electronic 
systems.  With a view to further enhance the activities and 
capabilities of ISRO, the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-2012) has an 
outlay of USD 10.5 billion (INR 450 billion) for space research, 
which is more than three times the allocation of USD 3 billion (INR 
132.5 billion) during the Tenth Plan period (2001-2006). 
 
¶3.  (U) ISRO has several mission goals.  First and foremost, India 
expects space technology to be a key tool or enabler for social and 
economic development including Information and Communication 
Technology (ICT), weather forecasting, natural and agricultural 
resource monitoring, environment monitoring, e-learning, 
telemedicine and security.  It also aspires to be at the cutting 
edge of technology and collaborate with advanced nations in joint 
scientific experiments in space.  Another key goal of the 
"Chandrayaan" (moon) mission program is to help motivate and attract 
a large number of youth into science and technology research and 
reinvigorate the scientific activity in the country.  The key 
features of India's indigenous space program are: 
 
 The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system includes eleven 
communication and broadcast satellites with over 210 transponders 
and supports Direct to Home (DTH) services and meteorological data. 
 
 
The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) Satellite System includes eight 
imagery satellites - one of the largest civilian constellations in 
 
NEW DELHI 00002641  002.2 OF 008 
 
 
the world - that provide imagery in a variety of spatial resolutions 
and spectral bands. 
 
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with 13 successful 
launches can launch payloads of up to 1000kg in a polar synchronous 
orbit. 
 
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) with four out of 
five successful launches can launch 2000 to 2500kg payloads into a 
geosynchronous orbit. 
 
¶4.  (U) The repeated successes of these systems have been the basis 
for India to take up a challenging project such as the "Chandrayaan" 
(moon) mission and investigate the feasibility of mission to Mars 
and beyond.  In addition, the opening of space and the defense 
sectors to private participation has made India an attractive 
destination for investments in aerospace industries. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
"Chandrayaan I" Mission Objectives, Key Features and 
 the Launch 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
¶5.  (U). "Chandrayaan-I", India's first scientific mission to the 
moon, aims to expand the understanding of its origin and evolution, 
study the moon's surface for resources, upgrade India's 
technological capabilities, and provide opportunities to the young 
scientists working in planetary sciences.  The unmanned mission will 
involve eleven experiments over a period of two years - six of those 
from other countries including the USA, the UK, Germany, Sweden, 
Bulgaria and Japan.  The payloads have been integrated into the 
spacecraft, and the system subjected to environmental tests 
including thermo-vacuum tests (rapid heating and cooling cycle tests 
with temperature varying from +120 C to -150 C), vibration and noise 
tests.  SciCouns had visited the ISRO facility in Bangalore in July 
and observed the integration process of the two US instruments on 
the spacecraft and had discussions with Dr.Annadurai, Project 
Director "Chandrayaan I" about the preparations.  The complete 
system is expected to be docked on to the launch vehicle by October 
12 or 13 at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.  As of the now the launch 
date could be between October 20 and 22, weather permitting.  The 
project cost is estimated at USD 89 million (INR 3.86 billion) - not 
including partner country instruments. 
 
--------------- 
Launch Process 
--------------- 
¶6.  (U) The spacecraft, weighing about 1050kg, will be launched by 
PSLV into an elliptical parking orbit of 240km perigee and 36,000km 
apogee - very similar to a geosynchronous transfer orbit.  The 
spacecraft will then use its own liquid apogee motor to take it to a 
trans-lunar injection orbit, and finally for lunar orbit insertion. 
In its final orbit of 100km above the moon, the spacecraft will 
weigh 525kg including the liquid fuel and micro thrusters required 
for a 2-year life span.  The journey from the earth to the moon 
should take five and half days. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
Tracking of the Launch and Receiving Data 
------------------------------------------ 
¶7.  (U) A new 32-meter antenna - built jointly by Electronics 
Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) Hyderabad, Bhabha Atomic 
Research Center(BARC) Mumbai, and various ISRO labs and private 
Indian industries - is operational at the Indian Deep Space Network 
 
NEW DELHI 00002641  003.2 OF 008 
 
 
(IDSN) center in Byalalu, near Bangalore to monitor the launch and 
receive data from the moon.  The antenna is capable of capturing and 
receiving signals from a distance of over 400,000km in outer space 
and can be moved at a lower speed of 0.01 millidegrees per second, 
an upper speed of 0.4 millidegrees per second with a vertical 
maneuverability of 90 degrees and capacity to rotate over 270 
degrees.  India will also track the launch with an 18-metre antenna 
installed in 2006 which can receive signals from up to 100,000km. 
ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) will manage 
the tracking activity. 
 
------------------------ 
Moon Mission Experiments 
------------------------ 
¶8.  (U) The eleven experiments to be carried out under the 
"Chandrayaan-I" mission are essentially geared to map the moon's 
surface for minerals and chemicals, to provide clues to the origin 
of the moon and explore the dark side of the moon for traces of 
water, especially in the large lunar craters that receive no 
sunlight and hence may contain frozen water.  Another key element 
Indian scientists hope to locate is Helium-3.  If detected, it could 
be extremely useful in nuclear reactors if transported to the earth. 
 The following instruments are part of this mission: 
 
-Terrain Mapping Stereo Camera (TMC) developed by ISRO to produce a 
high-resolution 3-dimensional atlas or a high resolution map of both 
the near and the far side of the moon to understand the evolution 
process and to identify regions of future scientific interests.  The 
TMC has a spatial/ground resolution of 5m and swath coverage of 
20km. 
-Hyper Spectral Imager (HySI) developed by ISRO is for mineralogical 
mapping in the visible and near infrared region (400-950 nm) with a 
spectral resolution of 15nm, a spatial resolution of 80m and swath 
coverage of 20km. 
-Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI) developed by ISRO to 
illuminate the terrain with a laser pulse and accurately estimate 
the altitude of the spacecraft above the lunar surface and determine 
the global topographical field of the moon.  These data along with 
the TMC information is expected to be used to obtain an improved 
lunar gravity model. 
-High Energy X-ray (HEX) developed by ISRO is to be used to detect 
X-rays emitted in the energy region of 30-250keV using a 
Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CdZnTe) detector array, with a field of view 
of 40km X 40km. 
-Moon Impact Probe (MIP) developed by ISRO is expected to piggy back 
on the "Chandrayaan I" and is to be released to drop on to the 
surface of the moon at a desired location once the space craft 
reaches a distance of 100km from the moon.  The MIP is expected to 
be a proof of concept of technologies required for an impact probe 
at a desired location on the moon and also qualify technologies 
required for future soft landing missions on the surface of the 
moon. 
-Chandrayaan-I X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS) is a joint effort between 
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK and ISRO Satellite Centre through 
the European Space Agency (ESA), will use X-ray fluorescence 
technique (1 -10keV) to map the moon, focused on understanding its 
origin and evolution and measuring the elemental abundance of Mg, 
Al, Si, Ca, Fe and Ti. 
-Near Infra Red spectrometer (SIR-2) developed by the Max-Plank 
Institute for Solar System Science, Germany is expected to be the 
key instrument for identifying the chemical composition of the crust 
and mantle of the moon.  It is also expected to help understand the 
"space weathering" process of the surface of the moon and identify 
 
NEW DELHI 00002641  004.2 OF 008 
 
 
future landing spots. 
-Sub keV Atom Reflecting Analyser (SARA) was developed jointly by 
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Sweden and Space Physics 
Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, ISRO through ESA.  SARA 
will be used to image the moon's surface using low energy neutral 
atoms (10eV-2keV) to get further information on its surface 
composition, to study solar wind surface interactions and the result 
of weathering of the moon surface due to bombardment by solar wind 
ions. 
-Radiation Dose Monitor Experiment (RADOM) developed by the 
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria will be used to 
qualitatively and quantitatively characterize, in terms of particle 
flux, dose rate and deposited energy spectrum and the radiation 
environment at different altitudes from the moon's surface. 
-Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) jointly developed by Brown University 
and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA through NASA is to be used to 
characterize and map lunar surface mineralogy with referfnce to the 
geologic evolution of Moon. This essentially involves understanding 
the highland crust, basaltic volcanism, impact craters and potential 
volatiles on the moon's surface.  The M3 is a high throughput 
imaging spectrometer operating in spectral range from 0.7 micron to 
3.0 micron range, with a spectral resolution of 10nm, spatial 
resolution of 70 m/pixel and a field of view of 40km [from 100km 
orbit].  It measures solar reflected energy using a two-dimensional 
Mercury Cadmium Telluride detector array. 
-Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar (MiniSAR) developed by the 
Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University and Naval Air 
Warfare Centre, USA through NASA is to be used for the detection of 
water (ice) in the permanently shadowed regions on the moon up to a 
depth of a few meters.  The synthetic aperture radar system works at 
a frequency 2.38 GHz with a resolution of 75m per pixel. 
 
------------------------ 
"Chandrayaan II" Program 
------------------------ 
¶9.  (SBU) At present, India plans to carry out two moon missions. 
It has already approved a budget of USD 98.9 million (INR 4.25 
billion) for the "Chandrayaan-II" mission which is expected to take 
place around 2011-12.  The key objective of the mission is to land a 
motorized rover on the moon to collect soil and rock samples and 
perform further chemical analysis of the lunar surface.  Russia has 
signed up, as one of the first partners for the mission, to develop 
the Lander/Rover system.  ISRO will be developing the Orbiter 
system.  Scientific instruments and experiments from other countries 
may also be accommodated.  NASA has had some dialogue regarding US 
participation and is considering sending an advanced Radioisotope 
Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) power source (generates power from a 
238 Plutonium heat source) aboard "Chandrayaan II".  This could be 
mission enabling/enhancing for "Chandrayaan II".  Because the 
advanced RTG has moving parts, NASA is seeking a flight opportunity 
to qualify it prior to its use on long duration outer planetary 
missions.  India has also recently joined eight nations (US, Canada, 
Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, France and England) to develop 
new technologies for exploratory robotic manned missions to the 
moon.  ISRO intends to launch the "Chandrayaan-II" using GSLV, and 
plans additional GSLV trial launches using the indigenously 
developed cryogenic engines before the mission in 2011-12. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) for GSLV 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶10.  (U) The CUS is the key to ISRO's ambitions to enhance its 
capabilities to launch heavier payloads. Restrictions on acquiring 
 
NEW DELHI 00002641  005.2 OF 008 
 
 
these engines and related technologies led ISRO to embark on 
indigenous development of the CUS, which was successfully tested for 
full flight duration of 720 seconds on November 15, 2007 at the 
Liquid Propulsion test facility at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu. With 
this test, ISRO considers the CUS qualified for the next GSLV 
launch.  The CUS is powered by a regeneratively cooled cryogenic 
engine, a key component, which works on staged combustion cycle 
(multistage burning of the propellant for enhanced efficiency) 
developing a thrust of 69.5kN in vacuum.  Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and 
Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) from the respective tanks are fed by 
individual booster pumps to the main turbo-pump rotating at 39,000 
rpm to ensure a high flow rate of 16.5 kg/sec of propellants into 
the combustion chamber.  The main turbine is driven by the hot gas 
produced in a pre-burner.  Thrust control and mixture ratio control 
are achieved by two independent regulators.  The various materials 
and the diverse sub-systems associated with the CUS were developed 
by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) Bangalore (the lead lab) 
along with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), other ISRO centers 
and several industries, both in the public and private sectors. 
 
----------------------------------- 
ISRO Enabled Development Programs 
------------------------------------------ 
¶11.  (U) The INSAT series of eleven satellites and the IRS series of 
eight satellites have enabled a wide range of social and economic 
development activities in India.  The INSAT System is one of the 
largest domestic communication satellite systems in the Asia Pacific 
region, supporting over 210 transponders and 65,000 Very Small 
Aperture Terminals (VSAT).  The system has enabled the expansion of 
television coverage to more than 40 Doordarshan (public) channels 
and 50 private TV channels, and rapid expansion of DTH (Direct to 
Home) television services.  ISRO expects to increase to 500 
transponders in the next four to five years. 
 
¶12.  (U) The Education Satellite (EDUSAT), dedicated exclusively for 
educational services, was launched in September 2004 and provides 
one-way TV broadcast, interactive TV, video conferencing and 
web-based instructions for education.  About 46 networks in 23 
states connect more than 2,500 interactive and about 31,000 
receive-only nodes at schools, colleges, training institutes and 
other GOI agencies.  At the recent Faculty Leadership Institute 
(FLI) organized at the Infosys Training Center in Mysore, jointly by 
the Indo US Collaboration on Engineering Education (IUCEE) and 
American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) to educate the 
faculty in the area of ICT, lectures were beamed live to over 50 
colleges across India.  SciCouns was involved in facilitating this 
program, where 30 faculty from several US universities conducted 
training courses for 600 faculty from India. 
 
¶13.  (U) Telemedicine is another key initiative facilitated by ISRO. 
 ISRO is driving this project by providing software, hardware, 
communication equipment and satellite bandwidth free of cost.  ISRO 
has extracted a commitment from tertiary hospitals to provide 
services at nominal charges, enabling people in the remotest parts 
of India to access super specialty medical care.  Presently, ISRO's 
telemedicine network includes over 300 installations, of which 45 
are super specialty hospitals and 10 are mobile units, and benefits 
over 300,000 patients annually.  For example, a patient in 
Lakshadweep Island in the Indian Ocean, which is 220 nautical miles 
from the Kerala coast can visit the local Indira Gandhi district 
hospital and virtually access facilities and interact with the 
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi in Kerala.  It may be 
mentioned here that various US and other international companies 
 
NEW DELHI 00002641  006.2 OF 008 
 
 
like Intel, GE, Texas Instruments and Philips and Indian companies 
like TCS, Wipro and many small and medium entrepreneurs are involved 
in developing a wide range of instruments, software tools and 
accessories to accelerate and better facilitate telemedicine 
activities in India.  ISRO satellites are the backbone of this 
system.  This is an area which has huge potential for growth.  The 
Department of Science and Technology (DST) has also identified the 
development of medical instrumentation and systems including those 
enabling telemedicine as one of the major goals in the Eleventh Five 
Year Plan. 
 
¶14.  (U) ISRO has installed specially designed disaster warning 
receivers in vulnerable coastal areas for direct transmission of 
warnings against impending disasters like cyclones based on 
meteorological data from INSAT.  ISRO also plans to establish the 
Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) using a 
constellation of seven satellites in the next six to seven years to 
provide navigation and timing services over the Indian subcontinent. 
 IRNSS would be a key feature of the Indian strategy for 
establishing an indigenous and independent satellite navigation 
system. 
 
¶15.  (U) The IRS series of imagery satellites - some with resolution 
better than one meter - provide data for groundwater prospect 
mapping, crop acreage and production estimation, potential fishing 
zone forecasting based on chlorophyll-a distribution and sea surface 
temperature, biodiversity characterization, detailed impact 
assessment of watershed development projects and generation of 
natural resources information.  In order to ensure that the above 
information reaches the rural population directly, ISRO has 
established over 410 Village Resource Centers (VRC) operated with 
the participation of local Non Government Organizations (NGO). 
 
------------------------------- 
Commercial Launch of Satellites 
------------------------------- 
¶16.  (U) ISRO's capability to launch its own satellites has now been 
expanded to generate additional revenues.  ISRO's commercial arm, 
Antrix Corporation, provides a multitude of services including 
transponders lease, remote sensing data services, launch services 
and early-orbit-phase mission support for satellites of other 
countries.  Antrix has registered an annual growth rate of 20 
percent in the past few years with revenues of over USD 150 million 
(INR 6.64 billion) and a profit of about USD 24 million (INR 1.05 
billion) in the previous financial year.  During the past year, ISRO 
has successfully launched satellites from Italy, Israel, Korea, 
Canada, Germany, Japan, Netherlands and Denmark including the 
orbiting of 10 small satellites in a single launch.  ISRO plans to 
launch over 70 Indian and international satellites during the course 
of next five years (Reftel-A).  This includes launches of satellites 
for Algeria, France, Singapore and some of the countries mentioned 
above.  Antrix is wanting to expand its market share in remote 
sensing imageries, infrastructure services in space for 
broadcasting, and mobile communication and positioning systems. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Other Initiatives and Future Plans of ISRO 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶17.  (SBU) After the launch of "Chandrayaan I", India is planning to 
launch in mid 2009 its first dedicated Astronomy Satellite 
(ASTROSAT).  The satellite is expected to conduct multi-wavelength 
studies of celestial sources and phenomena using a cluster of X-ray 
astronomy instruments and an ultraviolet imaging telescope. ISRO 
 
NEW DELHI 00002641  007.2 OF 008 
 
 
also plans to launch a 100kg satellite named 'Aditya' around 2012 to 
study the dynamic solar corona, the outermost region of the sun. 
ISRO is also looking at developing and demonstrating capabilities 
for space recovery technologies, air breathing propulsion systems 
and possibly a fully autonomous manned space vehicle in about 8-10 
years.  NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Director Dr. Charles 
Elachi visited ISRO on August 20 with the objective of exploring 
collaborations on planetary missions. 
 
¶18.  (SBU) ISRO intends to further develop the GSLV and enhance its 
capability to launch over 4000kg class communication satellites. 
Along with the Airport Authority of India (AAI), ISRO is involved in 
establishing India's satellite based navigation system for aiding 
civil aviation traffic across the country.  The system is called 
Global positioning satellite-Aided Geosynchronous Augmented 
Navigation system (Gagan).  Many US companies including Raytheon are 
associated with this project.  The US Embassy through the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) has been involved in facilitating this 
project.  Finally, ISRO is now actively working towards developing 
micro, nano and pico satellites.  Academic institutions including 
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and Anna University, 
Chennai are building these satellites. 
 
¶19.  (U) ISRO is also interested in the Reusable Launch Vehicle 
(RLV).  According to public statements by ISRO Chairman Dr. Madhavan 
Nair, the RLV would have a first stage with a winged body, which 
could launch a satellite in orbit and return, and a second stage, 
which would be like a space capsule that could land either in sea or 
on land.  They are working on the proof of concept which should be 
ready in two years time; ISRO expects to start work on the RLV 
project around 2010. 
 
------------------------- 
Constraints Faced by ISRO 
------------------------- 
¶20.  (SBU) ISRO lost a large number of trained lower and middle 
level scientists and engineers to 200 Fortune 500 companies that 
have recently set up operations in India, due in part to the 
disparity in salary between public and private sectors.  While the 
Sixth Pay Commission report provides public sector scientists a 
40-70% pay raise, ISRO still expects difficulty in attracting young 
scientists with the required technical background and skills.  To 
address this gap, ISRO set up in September, 2007 the Indian 
Institute of Space Science and Technology at Tiruvanathapuram in 
Kerala.  The Institute, which has admitted more than 140 students, 
offers high quality education in space science and technology.  In 
addition to obtaining a Bachelors Degree in space technology with 
specialization in avionics and aerospace engineering or an 
integrated Masters Degree in applied sciences with special emphasis 
on space, students can expect complete fee waiver and assured 
employment after graduation.  ISRO also has a program called 
"RESearch sPONsoreD - RESPOND" to support academic institutions that 
take up research programs of relevance to ISRO. 
 
¶21.  (SBU) Acquisition of advanced or specialized electronic 
hardware has presented a challenge to ISRO.  India has a booming 
VLSI design environment, but the existing eleven semiconductor 
fabrication facilities are under the government sector and have at 
least six- to seven-generation old microelectronic processing 
technology.  There have been some initiatives to create advanced 
facilities for research under the nanotechnology initiative (Reftel 
B).  Further, due to the new semiconductor policy (Reftel C), some 
private companies are in the process of establishing advanced 
 
NEW DELHI 00002641  008.2 OF 008 
 
 
microelectronic processing facility.  Dr. Neeraj Saxena, Managing 
Director of SemIndia, told SciFSN that that they are still in the 
process of installation and will not be operational until mid 2009 
at the earliest.  They plan to fabricate integrated circuit chips 
using 0.09 micron (90nm) technology.  Their priorities and schedule 
may not meet ISRO's immediate requirements.  In order to overcome 
restrictions on the import of advanced electronic components, ISRO 
has now decided to invest in its own fabrication facility.  It 
recently acquired a state-owned company, Semiconductor Complex 
Limited (SCL) in Chandigarh.  Presently SCL can cater up to 0.8 
micron technology.  ISRO had attempted to upgrade this facility and 
had invited proposals from IBM and Atmel from the US.  While IBM was 
selected, ISRO could not provide specific end use certification and 
wanted to have a flexible facility, catering to its various needs. 
As a result, IBM could not go ahead with the upgradation.  ISRO now 
plans to proceed with the upgrade on its own while continuing to 
develop Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based sensor and 
other application requirements using the existing 0.8 micron 
technology. 
 
--------- 
Comment 
--------- 
¶22.  (U) ISRO has been effective in achieving its program goals, and 
we expect its successes will continue.  To date, ISRO has partnered 
primarily with Indian companies.  However, its ambitious programs 
and focus on technology advancement suggest that ISRO's needs are 
not likely to be met by domestic resources.  NASA's successful 
partnership with ISRO on the "Chandrayaan I" moon mission highlights 
ISRO's eagerness to collaborate with US partners, both public and 
private, in pursuit of its goals.  End Comment. 
 
MULFORD