The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for several significant space missions following the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3. Here are the key missions and projects that ISRO has in the pipeline:
Aditya L-1 (Sun Mission)
ISRO’s next major project is the Aditya-L1 mission, which aims to study the sun. This will be India’s first dedicated scientific mission to study the solar atmosphere, particularly the chromosphere and corona. The mission involves placing a satellite in a halo orbit around the first Lagrangian Point (L1) of the sun-earth system, around 1.5 million km from Earth. The launch is planned for early September.
Gaganyaan (Human Spaceflight)
ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission involves sending a crew of three members into space for a three-day mission and safely bringing them back to Earth. The mission will demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capability. The abort mission demonstration for Gaganyaan is expected around the last week of September or early October. The project involves the development of critical technologies, including a human-rated launch vehicle, life support systems, and crew management aspects.
Space Industry and Exploration
ISRO’s successful Chandrayaan-3 mission has bolstered India’s reputation in the global space industry. The agency is exploring opportunities for foreign investment and partnerships to further develop its space capabilities. ISRO’s head, S Somanath, has emphasized that the “golden era” of India’s space program has just begun, and the agency is confident in its ability to explore space more extensively.
