BANGALORE: Just two days after the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Sivan K announced India is looking to have its own Space Station, the space agency has called for proposals of experiments, including docking—a key technology for space station establishment and functioning—to be carried out on an orbital platform (PS4-OP).

The PS4 is the last stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket, which until now used to go waste after putting the spacecraft into the desired orbit. ISRO, in the last two attempts tried to keep PS4 alive in space, and was successful. As the next step, it has now called for experiments from national and international institutions. The experiments will cover six areas, including space docking.

“The PS4-Orbital Platform (PS4-OP) refers to a novel idea formulated by ISRO to use the spent PS4 stage (fourth stage of PSLV) to carry out in-orbit scientific experiments for an extended duration of one to six months. The advantage being the stage has standard interfaces & packages for power generation, telemetry, tele-command, stabilisation, orbit keeping & orbit manoeuvring,” ISRO said on Saturday.

The agency said that the scientific community and research organisations can design experiments and utilise the OP interfaces for powering, data management & specific experimental requirements.

“In short, ISRO is extending its expertise in space technology to the scientific community as a platform to design, develop & validate their experiments in an effective manner. The capability of providing power, telemetry & data down-link for the payloads housed in OP has been demonstrated in previous missions,” ISRO added.

The PSLV is a four stage launch vehicle primarily designed to inject satellites into Polar orbits. It has completed 48 versatile missions—including low earth orbit, lunar and mars missions—and has successfully injected 356 satellites till date.

Among the experiments ISRO is looking to put on-board PS4-OP are micro-gravity experiments; robotic armour smart space robot technology demonstration; rendezvous & docking experiments; small satellites technology development; laser communication technology development and low-cost platform for testing inflatable systems.

ISRO said it is soliciting participation from institutes with a specific objective to invite important payloads for inclusion in the OP mission to “strengthen and complement space-based research activities.

ISRO has said that the maximum weight of each payload cannot exceed 10 kgs and has mandated that all components used on payloads must be of military grade. “If commercial or industrial grade materials/components are used, acceptance will be subject to satisfactory completion of specified tests,” ISRO said.

The TOI had reported on the same day as Sivan’s announcement of the space station that space docking technology will be essential if India wants to have such a station. While ISRO has been working on the technology itself, Saturday’s announcement inviting experiments on PS4-OP is for additional learning, as one scientist said.