ISRO Chairman S Somanath Says Space Agency Very Busy With Exploration Missions

ISRO's Vision for Exploration Missions

ISRO has lined up a series of exploration missions including to Mars, Venus and to the Moon again, apart from the maiden human spaceflight programme, Chairman S Somanath said on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Somanath said that ISRO is also working on missions to study the climate and weather conditions of the Earth. Besides, ISRO is also working on regular scientific missions including communication and remote sensing satellites.

Somanath said that the maiden TV-D1 test flight of the Gaganyaan programme is scheduled for October 21.

He also elaborated on the upcoming exploration missions undertaken by the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency. "We have exploration missions. We have plans to go to Mars, Venus, again sometime to the Moon. We also have programmes to look at the climate and weather of Earth," he said.

Stressing that the scientists at ISRO would be focused on taking up regular missions like launching satellites for communications and remote sensing, he said scientific missions are also in the pipeline to look at issues like aeronomy, thermal imaging, and climate change impact assessment.

"So many things are there and we are very busy doing all of this," he said.

H3: Beyond Earth: Mars, Venus, Moon, and More

In a recent statement, Chairman S Somanath highlights ISRO's ambitious exploration missions, including journeys to Mars, Venus, and a return to the Moon. These initiatives reflect ISRO's commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

Gaganyaan Program Update

Somanath shares a key development regarding the Gaganyaan program, stating that the maiden TV-D1 test flight is scheduled for October 21. This represents a significant milestone in India's human spaceflight aspirations.

Earth-Centric Missions and Ongoing Scientific Endeavors

While venturing into space exploration, ISRO remains committed to Earth-centric studies. Plans include missions dedicated to studying climate and weather conditions, reinforcing the agency's holistic approach to space exploration.

Sustaining Momentum with Regular Scientific Missions

ISRO continues its momentum with regular scientific missions, encompassing communication, remote sensing satellites, and other critical projects. The focus remains on enhancing scientific understanding and technological advancements.

Vikram Lander's Lunar Journey

Responding to queries about the Vikram lander from Chandrayaan-3, Somanath shares that Vikram has completed its tasks efficiently during the lunar day. While currently in sleep mode, ISRO remains hopeful that it might awaken in the future.

Aditya-L1's Journey to Study the Sun

Somanath provides an update on ISRO's maiden mission to study the Sun, Aditya-L1. The spacecraft is on a healthy 110-day journey to reach the Lagrange point L1, where it will commence scientific data streaming in mid-January.

"It is a long journey. It is almost 110 days of journey and it has covered some distance now. We corrected a little bit of its trajectory, because early correction is important to reach the L1 point. After tracking, we find it is going in the right direction towards the L1 point," he said.

Observing that the rocket is on a 'complex travel', Somanath said, "It takes almost another 70-75 days further to reach. By the middle of January, it will reach there. After that, we will make some corrections to make it enter into the Halo orbit at the L1 point."

"After that instruments will be switched on and it will start doing the scientific data streaming. Currently, everything is very healthy on Aditya L1," he said.

Tribute to M S Swaminathan's Legacy

ISRO Chairman S Somanath pays tribute to the renowned agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan, recognizing his significant contributions to India's 'Green Revolution.' Somanath acknowledges the importance of collaboration across diverse domains for the collective progress of science and technology.

"I am here today just to pay my tributes and my affection to his (M S Swaminathan's) contribution... Whoever works in whichever field whether it is space, agriculture or sustainability and many other domains, we all find a place to work together," he said.

"Thank you so much for the opportunity. His (M S Swaminathan's) legacy will continue to inspire more young people in the country to work in science and technology." Somanath said.

Some relevant and latest facts for the ISRO exploration missions :

• ISRO is targeting to launch its maiden human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, by the end of 2024.

• ISRO is also planning to launch a series of exploration missions to Mars, Venus, and the Moon in the coming years.

• The Mars mission is expected to be launched in 2029, and the Venus mission in 2030.

• ISRO is also planning to launch a second mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-4, in 2024.

• Chandrayaan-4 will be a lander-rover mission, and it will carry a rover that will be able to traverse the lunar surface for a longer period of time than the Pragyan rover on Chandrayaan-2.

• ISRO is also developing a new spacecraft called the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), which will be able to carry humans and cargo to space and back.

• The RLV is expected to make its first test flight in 2023.

In addition to these exploration missions, ISRO is also working on a number of other projects, including:

• Developing new satellite technologies for communication, remote sensing, and navigation.

• Working on new launch vehicle technologies.

• Developing new technologies for human spaceflight.

• Conducting research on various aspects of space science.

ISRO is one of the leading space agencies in the world, and it is playing a major role in advancing India's space program.

Conclusion: ISRO's Multifaceted Approach

ISRO's multifaceted approach, spanning exploration missions, Earth-centric studies, and ongoing scientific endeavors, underscores India's growing prowess in space exploration. As the space agency continues to break new ground, it reinforces its commitment to advancing knowledge and inspiring future generations.