ISRO’s Future Plans

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30 Aug ISRO’s Future Plans

Posted at 30 Aug 2023 in Current Affairs by
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This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “ISRO’s Future Plans”. The topic “ISRO’s Future Plans” has relevance in the “ISRO’s Future Plans” section of the UPSC CSE exam.

For Prelims:

What is ISRO? 

What are its current objectives? 

What are its future objectives? 

For Mains:

GS3:  Science and Technology

Why in the news?

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proclaimed that August 23, the day when the Chandrayaan-3 Lander successfully landed on the moon, will now be recognized as National Space Day. Additionally, he unveiled the naming of the Chandrayaan-3 landing site as “Shiv Shakti point” and the location of the unsuccessful Chandrayaan-2 mission’s 2019 crash as “Tiranga point.”

About ISRO:

  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India’s space agency, focusing on science, engineering, and technology for utilizing outer space’s benefits for the nation and humanity. 
  • Operating under the Department of Space (DOS), ISRO is a key entity responsible for executing the Indian Space Programme.
  • Core objective: To develop and apply space technology to address various national necessities. 

ISRO’s Current Objectives: 

  • Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission:
    • The Gaganyaan project is focused on showcasing India’s ability to conduct human spaceflight. This involves sending a 3-member crew into a 400 km orbit for a 3-day mission, safely returning them to Earth via a landing in the Indian sea waters.
    • Astronaut training is in progress alongside a series of tests on the modified Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM-3) rocket. This comprehensive testing phase aims to ensure the rocket’s safety for carrying humans.
  • Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD): 
    • ISRO is actively conducting tests for the Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD). This innovation is designed to enable multiple missions with a single launch vehicle, departing from the traditional model where each rocket is used only once.
  • Semi-cryogenic Engine SCE-200: 
    • This engine employs highly refined kerosene (known as “Isrosene”) and liquid oxygen as propellants. 
    • The engine’s capabilities are being evaluated through rigorous testing and development, with the aim of powering the next generation of ISRO rockets.
  • Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV):
    • It is a compact rocket, distinct from the larger Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), is designed to efficiently transport lighter satellites into low-earth orbit. The SSLV’s streamlined design promises reduced turnaround time between launches, enhancing operational efficiency.

 

ISRO’s Future Plans

Major Missions Description
Aditya L1 Spacecraft
  • India’s first solar mission is scheduled to launch in September 2023 and will study the Sun from a point in space called the Lagrange point L1, which is located about 1.5 million kilometres from Earth.
  • The mission’s main objectives are to study the coronal heating and solar wind acceleration, and to understand the initiation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and flares.
Modified LVM-3 Flights (Gaganyaan Crew Escape Tests)
  • Two flights of modified LVM-3 to test crew escape system for Gaganyaan mission.
XPoSat Satellite
  • Set to launch in 2023, it is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission, with the goal of exploring the dynamics of astronomical X-ray sources
  • ISRO and the Raman Research Institute (RRI) have collaborated to develop this satellite, positioning it within a low Earth orbit covering 500-700 km.
SSLV Developmental Flight
  • It is capable of launching up to 500 kg satellites to low Earth orbit.
  • The SSLV is a three-stage solid rocket vehicle with a liquid propulsion-based velocity trimming module.
NISAR Satellite
  • The NISAR satellite constitutes a collaborative initiative between NASA and ISRO aimed at jointly developing and deploying a dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar on an Earth observation satellite positioned in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
  • The satellite will be the first radar imaging satellite to use dual frequencies and will be used for remote sensing, to observe and understand natural processes on Earth
Gaganyaan G1 and G2 Flights
  • Human-rated LVM-3 rocket flights without crew as part of Gaganyaan mission.
GSAT-20 Satellite
  • It is a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
  • Notably, it’s set to become ISRO’s first satellite to transition from a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) to a geosynchronous orbit through Electric Propulsion.
Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission
  • ISRO and JAXA collaboration, an extension of Chandrayaan-3. Involves a sophisticated Lander and rover to study the moon’s South Polar Region, including subsurface sample extraction and ‘night survival’ demonstration.
  • Moreover, JAXA will provide launch vehicle and rover, while ISRO provides the Lander.
Mars Return Mission
  • Planned return to Mars for further exploration.
Venus Mission (‘Shukrayaan’)
  • Planned mission to study Venus.
Other Collaborations
  • ISRO’s involvement in launching OneWeb satellites (2022) and expected launch of European Space Agency’s PROBA-3 satellites (2024) as alternative providers due to sanctions on Russia.

 

Sources: Explained | After Chandrayaan-3, what has ISRO planned? – The Hindu 

 

Q1. With reference to India’s Moon Missions, consider the following statements: 

  1. The Chandrayaan-3 landing site has been named as “Shiv Shakti point” by India. 
  2. The location of the unsuccessful Chandrayaan-1 mission’s crash has been named as “Tiranga point.”
  3. The Chandrayaan-3 mission consists of an Orbiter, Lander and a Rover Module. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 only 

(d) None 

Answer: (a) 

 

Q2. Consider the following pairs with reference to ISRO’s Future Plans: 

ISRO’s Future Plans Description
1. Aditya L-1 India’s first solar mission and a impact probe 
2. LUPEX a joint project between NASA and ISRO
3. NISAR  ISRO and Japanese Space Agency collaboration 
4. XPoSat  India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission

How many of the abovementioned pairs are correct ?

(a) Only one 

(b) Only two 

(c) Only three 

(d) All Four 

Answer: (a)

Q3. Discuss the recent and upcoming initiatives of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the context of its current and future plans. How do these initiatives align with India’s technological and strategic aspirations on the global stage? 

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