Tata Consulting Engineers designs and engineers key aspects of ISRO’s successful Chandrayaan 3 mission
~ TCE has been the engineering partner to India’s Atmanirbhar Space Mission since 1971 ~
Tata Consulting Engineers Limited (TCE), the largest Indian private-sector engineering and project management consultancy, engineered unique and indigenously built critical systems and sub-systems custom-built for the successful launch of space missions. These facilities, engineered by TCE, played an important role in the launch of the third moon mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Chandrayaan 3 successfully executed a soft landing on the moon on August 23, 2023, which makes India the 4th nation in the world to successfully land on the moon.
Since 2005, TCE has been a valued partner of the ISRO. Through this collaboration, TCE has contributed significantly to the design of essential components and facilities required to successfully launch Satellite Launch Vehicles. TCE engineered the solid propellant plant, the vehicle assembly building, and the mobile launch pedestal. Here are some details of these three units:
- The Solid Propellant Plant: The facility that produces the solid propellant powering the satellite launch vehicle and various special-purpose equipment required in the propellant plant,
- Vehicle Assembly Building: The building and the various special purpose facilities used for assembling the space vehicle, and
- Mobile Launch Pedestal with the Bogie mechanism that transports the launch vehicle to the launch location.
On August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan 3 successfully landed, making India the 4th Nation in the world to land on the moon. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Amit Sharma, MD & CEO of Tata Consulting Engineers, said: “We, at TCE, take pride in contributing to our country’s space ambitions and are dedicated to serving our nation in future endeavours. With India’s recent achievement of becoming the fourth nation to land on the moon, we feel honoured to have played a role in our nation’s success. This mission not only demonstrates India’s capabilities but also her pioneering spirit towards scientific discoveries. I believe that the success of this mission will inspire young scientific minds and future scientists and engineers, enabling India to innovate across various sectors and take the Make in India mission to new heights.”
Shri Sudheer Kumar N, Director of Capacity Building and Public Outreach (CBPO), ISRO, acknowledged TCE’s contribution and said, “TCE is a valuable partner in our space program and has provided numerous innovative and indigenous designs. As we expand our missions in the future, TCE is expected to continue playing a crucial role in our upcoming projects.”
TCE has been contributing significantly to Indian space missions over many decades, even prior to 2005. In 1971 TCE engineered the world’s first and largest equatorially mounted cylindrical radio telescope, ORT, in Ooty. In 1986, TCE took on the challenge of designing and engineering India’s first domestically produced 2.3m optical telescope for the Indian Institute of Astrophysics at Kavalur. In 1994, TCE helped install the giant metre wave radio telescope, popularly known as GMRT, made from 30 colossal parabolic dishes, was established.
