After successfully landing the Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface, ISRO has created history, becoming only the fourth nation to land a rover on the Moon. The space agency has also become the first one to land a rove on the South Pole of the Moon. The mission is still going strong, and ISRO has mentioned that their rover has verified the existence of sulfur, iron, oxygen, and various other elements on the Moon.
But ISRO doesn’t plan on stopping there, as it has a plethora of exciting missions already planned for the coming years. These plans include interplanetary missions, manned missions, and eventually space tourism. Let’s have a look at the upcoming ISRO missions.
Also read: Why India chose to land Chandrayaan-3 at the Lunar South Pole?
ADITYA-L1
ISRO has launched yet another mission on September 2nd — the Aditya L1 mission (named after the Hindi word for the sun) marks India’s inaugural foray into solar study. This spacecraft will be positioned in orbit around the Sun-Earth system’s Lagrange point 1 (L1), located approximately 1.5 million km (930,000 miles) from Earth. At this celestial “parking spot,” the gravitational forces of the sun and Earth neutralize each other, allowing objects to stay in place, thereby reducing the spacecraft’s fuel consumption.
Initially, the spacecraft will enter a low Earth orbit. Afterward, its orbit will be adjusted to become more elliptical, and then it will be directed towards the Lagrange point L1 using its onboard propulsion system. As the spacecraft travels towards L1, it will gradually move away from Earth.
Gaganyaan 1,2 & 3 – India’s first manned mission
India’s inaugural manned space mission, named “Gaganyaan” (combining “Gagan” meaning sky and “yaan” for craft in Hindi), is set to send a team of three into orbit at an altitude of 400 km (about 250 miles). They’ll embark on a three-day mission before safely returning to Indian waters. ISRO announced that the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre has effectively tested mechanisms to stabilize the crew module and safely decrease its speed during re-entry.
Earlier this year, Jitendra Singh, the deputy minister for science & technology, revealed that approximately 90.23 billion rupees (equivalent to $1.08 billion) had been designated for the Gaganyaan program. ISRO has indicated that its future goals will concentrate on maintaining a continuous human presence in space after completing Gaganyaan. While there’s no official start date yet, ISRO has mentioned that the mission is expected to be prepared and ready for action around 2024.
NISAR
NASA and ISRO have partnered to create the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) system, which operates in a low-Earth orbit. NISAR’s mission is to map the entire Earth approximately every 12 days, offering valuable data to monitor and comprehend shifts in ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level, groundwater, and natural phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.
About the size of an SUV, the satellite is scheduled for launch from India in early next year, with a specific target launch date set for January.
Also read: How astronomers plan to change an asteroid into a space habitat in just 12 years
SPADEX
The SPADEX, short for Space Docking Experiment, aims to advance and refine the necessary technologies for orbital rendezvous, docking and coordinated flying in space. If SPADEX proves successful, it will serve as a stepping stone for upcoming ISRO missions that require docking capabilities, including the human spaceflight program and in-space satellite servicing missions.
Mangalyaan 2 (Mars Orbiter mission)
Mangalyaan 2, the second mission to Mars, also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission 2, is an upcoming interplanetary mission by ISRO, scheduled for launch in 2024. The spacecraft will be equipped with a hyperspectral camera, a high-resolution panchromatic camera, and radar to study the early Martian crust, recent basalts, and boulder falls.
Mangalyaan-1, also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission, was launched back in November 2013 and managed to enter Mars’ orbit by September 2014. Originally planned for a six-month mission, it has now been operational for nine years. This mission marked India’s successful journey to another planet and was notably cost-effective, with a total budget of Rs 450 crore, making it one of the most budget-friendly Mars missions to date. The Mars orbiter has transmitted a vast collection of images, surpassing two terabytes in data. ISRO has several significant projects in the pipeline, including an exploration mission to Venus following the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission.
Shukrayaan 1 (Interplanetary mission)
Shukrayaan is an upcoming orbiter mission headed for Venus, aiming to investigate the planet’s surface and atmosphere. The mission was previously scheduled for launch toward the end of 2024.
During a discussion on January 9th, P. Sreekumar, the Satish Dhawan Professor at ISRO and an advisor to its space science program, revealed that the Indian government’s approval for the Venus mission is still pending. Consequently, there’s a chance that the mission might face a delay, possibly until 2031.
Will ISRO Join The Space Tourism Race?
ISRO Chairman S. Somnath has revealed that they are actively developing India’s own space tourism module, emphasizing its safety and reusability. He also provided a timeframe, stating that space enthusiasts can expect to embark on space journeys by the year 2030. The estimated cost for this adventure is currently set at Rs 6 crore.
High-ranking ISRO officials have reported that progress on the government’s space tourism module is picking up speed. They further mentioned that tickets for this venture will be offered at “competitive prices” in the global market.
While the module’s specifics haven’t been disclosed yet, given the Rs 6 crore price tag, it strongly hints at the inclusion of sub-orbital space travel. Typically, sub-orbital journeys offer approximately 15 minutes at the fringes of space, affording a brief experience of low-gravity conditions before the flight returns to Earth. Companies like Blue Origin have carried out suborbital flights utilizing their reusable New Shepard rocket. Using reusable rockets boosts the economic feasibility of space travel since they can be used for multiple trips to space.
ISRO scientists indicated that ISRO is considering collaborating with private companies to create the space travel module, with the involvement of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). Addressing concerns about the safety of space travel, the ISRO chairman mentioned that they are leveraging the Reusable Launch Vehicle—Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) to enhance their understanding of spaceflight safety.
