HEC all set to join Isro's core group

Ranchi: The Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC), Ranchi is set to be included in the core group of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) for its ongoing Moon Mission.

As a core group member, HEC is expected to deliver various strategic equipments to Isro required for different components of the Moon Mission till 2012.

The company's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) GK Pillai recently visited Irso to discuss core group formalities.

Pillai said that Isro officials would be visiting shortly to the HEC to discuss the Moon Mission requirements with its technical experts vis-a-vis their expectation from a core group.

The CMD said that HEC is ready to send a second mobile lauch pad (MLP) to Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh by the end of next month.

The second MLP comprises 11 major modules or sections. Of the total components, HEC has already dispatched six components to Sriharikota. The remaining five are under various stages of manufacture and inspection.

"The cost of the Isro order is Rs 5.5 crore," HEC Director (Production) SK Choudhary said.

The launch pedestal, which is easy to dismantle and re-assemble, facilitates the movement of a space vehicle from one place to another. Ranchi-based engineering consultant Mecon has designed the MLP for HEC.

Besides the MLP, HEC is engaged in production of a giant machine for the second moon mission, which comprises a number of smaller sections, including two support rings.

The rings have been designed to serve as the resting place for a space shuttle before its blasts into space. Each major section, weighing around 82 tonne, is 4.5 m high, 9.7 m in length and 5.8 m in width.

Since the assembled MLP would be too large for transportation to Sriharikota, each module is being sent separately by trailer trucks.

Choudhary said that the total weight of the six modules, already dispatched to Sriharokota, was 540 tonne. The remaining five modules, waiting for clearance, would weigh another 270 tonnes making the weight of the assembled MLP 810 tonnes.

It may be recalled that the HEC had built the Rs 20-crore MLP that had supported India's first moon mission.

The engineering major had also manufactured the 10-tonne tower crane, placed atop the umbilical tower that held the PSLV before it blasted into space.