Early Sunday morning at 00.07hrs, 23rd October, 2022, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched LVM3-M2/OneWeb India-1 Mission aboard its Launch Vehicle Mark-3 and successfully placed a constellation of 36 broadband satellites developed by OneWeb, a UK based company, to Low Earth Orbit. With this successful launch ISRO’s LVM-3 rocket has made its foray in the global commercial launch service market.
Later over a period of 1 hour and 15 minutes, ISRO confirmed that OneWeb’s satellites separated successfully from the rocket and were dispensed in nine phases with signal acquisition on all 36 satellites confirmed. LVM-3 is the heaviest rocket ISRO has launched till date, having the payload capacity of 10 tonne, the rocket lifted off with 6 tonnes, weighing 644-tons into the clear skies carrying OneWeb’s 36-satellites each weighing 150-kg.
While this successful launch is historic to the Indian Space Programme , we bring to the forefront contribution of Goa-India based company Kineco Kaman Composites India Private Limited (Kineco Kaman) which supplied the Composite Equipment Bay Shroud (EBS) Assembly and other C25 CFRP elements for this expedition.
When as part of its commitment to promote private sector participation in developing space capabilities in India, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), a division of ISRO, decided to outsource critical EBS assembly, they entrusted this responsibility to Kineco Kaman taking into consideration its legacy of proven performance and expertise in industrialization of complex composite assemblies. Thereafter over a period of 18 months, VSSC and Kineco Kaman teams worked alongside tirelessly to align the competencies to manufacture and deliver this complex EBS Assembly and other elements within the demanded time frame for the launch. EBS Assembly is complex and critical 4m diameter CFRP hat-stiffened structure that houses sensitive equipment of the GSLV. The composite segments are fabricated using carbon fiber prepreg and aluminium core material which is cured using an Autoclave and are then assembled using various titanium and aluminium hardware to tight tolerances.
➢ Materials of Construction: Carbon Prepreg, Al honeycomb core and Al metallic hardware.
➢ Process: Autoclave cure, monolithic and sandwich layup & Assembly of composite and metallic hardware.
Kineco Kaman’s credentials in providing high-quality, cost-effective composite solutions with superior service and on-time delivery for the aerospace and defense sector have further been enhanced with this successful industrialization of EBS assembly for the space sector. Kineco Kaman will supply Four (4) more EBS Assembly to ISRO by December 2023.
LVM-3 will also be used for India’s maiden Human Space Flight Mission – Gaganyaan scheduled by 2024. Kineco Kaman will also be a part of this landmark mission having bagged prestigious contract from VSSC for Supply of Crew Orbiter Module Adaptor Assembly (OMA).
About Kineco Kaman
Kineco Kaman manufactures advanced composite parts and assemblies for aerospace and defence customers at its state-of-the-art aerospace & defence composites facility in Pilerne Industrial Estate, Goa, India. The facility has achieved several global certifications such as AS9100 (Rev-D) NADCAP, ISO 14001 & 45001 and ZED (Zero Defect – Zero Effect) gold rating, besides several other customer specific qualifications. Kineco Kaman exports its products to global Aerospace OEM’s, which include those in the US, Europe and Israel. Kineco Kaman is recipient of Gold Supplier award from BAE Systems for maintaining a 100% on-time delivery & 100% quality performance in 2018, 2020 & 2021. Kineco Kaman is also a major supplier of composite parts and assemblies to HAL for their various program, as well as the ISRO’s satellite & launch vehicle programs. More information is available at www.kinecokamanindia.com.
About Kineco Group
Kineco, a first-generation enterprise founded by Shekhar Sardessai in 1995, is one of India’s leading composites manufacturing companies with a strong focus on the mass transit, aerospace and defense sector with a strong legacy of innovation, development and commercialization of several composite products across these industries. The group employees over 750 people across three manufacturing locations in Goa India, including the Kineco Kaman JV and Kineco Exel JV. Helios Strategic Systems (I) Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Indo National Limited, a publicly listed company) headquartered in Chennai, is a majority shareholder in Kineco Limited. More information is available at www.kinecogroup.com.
About Kaman Corporation
Kaman Corporation, founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman, and headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut conducts business in the aerospace & defense, industrial and medical markets. Kaman produces and markets proprietary aircraft bearings and components; super precision, miniature ball bearings; proprietary spring energized seals, springs and contacts; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft; safe and arming solutions for missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work; restoration, modification and support of SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters; manufacture and support of K-MAX® manned and unmanned medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. More information is available at www.kaman.com.