India’s Space Programme: Achievements Since Chandrayaan-3 and Future Plans for ISRO

India’s Space Programme: Achievements Since Chandrayaan-3 and Future Plans for ISRO

Sub: Sci

Sec: Space

In the wake of a bustling 2023, Sriharikota, India’s spaceport, has experienced a relative quiet. Nonetheless, this calm period does not signify a halt in the progress of India’s space program. Following the successful lunar landing of the Chandrayaan 3 mission’s Vikram lander, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has continued to advance its initiatives. In honor of this milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially recognized August 23 as India’s National Space Day.

Recent Achievements in India’s Space Program

Aditya-L1: Building on its lunar success, India launched the solar science mission Aditya-L1 on September 2, 2023. The mission, utilizing ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), initially achieved orbit around the first Earth-Sun Lagrange point (L1) on January 6, 2024.

Aditya-L1 completed its first orbit on July 2, 2024, and studied a solar storm in May 2024, in collaboration with ground observatories and lunar orbiting spacecraft.

Gaganyaan TV-D1: On October 21, 2023, ISRO conducted its first abort test for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission using a modified L-40 Vikas engine.

This test validated the Crew Escape System’s (CES) capability to safely separate from the Test Vehicle (TV), protect the crew module, and ensure its controlled descent into the Bay of Bengal. The recovered crew module was retrieved by the Indian Navy vessel INS Shakthi.

XPoSat: ISRO commenced the new year with the launch of the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) on January 1, 2024.

Designed to study the polarization of radiation from celestial objects, XPoSat is the second space-based X-ray polarimetry observatory after NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IPEX) from 2021.

Its onboard instruments, XSPECT and POLIX, began operations on January 5 and 10, respectively.

INSAT-3DS: On February 17, ISRO launched the meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS aboard a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

This mission aimed to validate the GSLV’s performance ahead of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, scheduled for early 2025.

The GSLV had previously achieved success with the NVS-01 satellite launch in 2023.

RLV-TD: ISRO tested its downscaled Reusable Launch Vehicle, Pushpak, through two landing experiments—LEX-02 and LEX-03—on March 22 and June 7 at its Aeronautical Testing Range in Challakere, Karnataka.

These tests, involving simulated space landing conditions from a Chinook helicopter, demonstrated the vehicle’s landing capabilities and paved the way for the upcoming Orbital Return Flight Experiment.

SSLV: On August 16, ISRO conducted the third and final development flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), successfully placing the EOS-08 and SR-0 Demosat satellites into orbit. With two successful test flights, the SSLV’s development was completed, and it was approved for transfer to industry.

EOS-08 featured three payloads: an infrared earth observation sensor, a satellite navigation system demonstration, and an ultraviolet dosimeter for future use in the Gaganyaan crew module.

Next-Generation Launch Vehicle

To support its ambitions for both the BAS and an advanced lunar program, India is developing the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV). This new rocket aims to deliver heavier payloads than the current PSLV or GSLV.

Led by S. Sivakumar, an ISRO team presented a project report to the Union Cabinet in February, detailing funding needs and manufacturing requirements for the NGLV.

The vehicle will feature three stages: a semi-cryogenic engine, a liquid engine, and a cryogenic engine. Once operational, the NGLV will replace the GSLV, though the PSLV continues to be produced by a consortium led by Larsen & Toubro and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Meanwhile, ISRO is enhancing the LVM-3 rocket with a semi-cryogenic engine, having successfully tested its pre-burner ignition on May 2 and 21.

NSIL Missions

The NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is tasked with managing missions and commercial activities. On May 1, ISRO transferred all commercial aspects of Indian Remote Sensing satellite data to NSIL.

NSIL has engaged SpaceX to launch the GSAT-20/GSAT-N2 satellite in August 2024, as the LVM-3 cannot accommodate the 4,700-tonne satellite. Additionally, NSIL issued a request for qualifications for LVM-3 production via public-private partnerships and secured a launch service agreement with an Australian private space company for the SSLV.

Private Space Missions

Agnikul Cosmos made history on March 21 with the successful launch of its SoRTeD-01 vehicle, the first semi-cryogenic engine-powered launch from Indian soil.

Skyroot Aerospace is advancing towards launching its Vikram 1 rocket, following solid-fuel engine tests between May and July 2024 and a test vehicle launch on November 18, 2022. Dhruva Space and Bellatrix Aerospace conducted experiments on the PSLV-C58 mission’s fourth stage on January 1.

IN-SPACe Developments

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) has made several significant policy updates. On May 3, it released new guidelines for space activity authorization.

On November 21, it granted India’s first satellite broadband license to Eutelsat OneWeb and, on July 15, issued the first license for a ground station service to Dhruva Space. Additionally, on February 21, the Indian government amended its foreign direct investment (FDI) policy to permit 100% direct FDI in all space sectors, with exceptions for 74% in satellite manufacturing and operations and 49% in launch infrastructure.

ISRO’s Strategic Roadmaps

Research and Future Planning:

Following the transfer of operational responsibilities to NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL), ISRO has shifted its focus to research and long-term planning.

In December 2023, ISRO Chairman S. Somanath unveiled a 25-year roadmap extending to 2047, outlining plans for the Gaganyaan mission. This plan intersects with lunar exploration goals, targeting an Indian moon landing by 2040. The lunar roadmap includes crewed missions, sample-return missions, long-duration lunar surface stays, docking with NASA’s Lunar Gateway (part of the Artemis program), and the construction of lunar habitats.

Gaganyaan Mission:

ISRO is concentrating on training its astronaut candidates, known as Gaganyatris, for the Gaganyaan mission. On February 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the names of the candidates:

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captains Prashanth Nair, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap. Recently, Shukla and Nair traveled to the U.S. for advanced training in preparation for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla is expected to participate in this mission, with Nair as his backup. Scheduled for 2025, this mission will be conducted by Axiom Space with NASA’s support and SpaceX’s launch vehicle and crew capsule.

Additionally, ISRO plans to conduct at least four more abort tests using its Test Vehicle before the first crewed Gaganyaan flight, which is anticipated in late 2024. The roadmap also envisions the construction of an Indian space station, named the ‘Bharatiya Antariksh Station,’ by 2035.

Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) 2035

Overview

The Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is India’s ambitious plan for a space station, slated for launch by 2035. It aims to establish a permanent human presence in low Earth orbit and drive forward India’s space capabilities.