Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given clear vision for what we have to do till 2040: ISRO Chairman V Narayanan

By R Anil Kumar

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), January 29. After achieving the 100th launch milestone with the successful launch of the GSLV–F15 mission on Wednesday, January 29, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the Prime Minister has given vision for 2040.

Speaking after the successful launch of GSLV–F15-NVS-02 Mission, Narayanan asserted that they have all the support and blessings of the political leadership.

“We have come a long way from moving rockets and satellites on old bicycles and bullock carts. Today, we are a vibrant and respected space organization. This has not been done by one man but by a generation of leaders starting from Vikram Sarabhai to Satish Dhawan, and predecessors,” V Narayanan said.

“The PM has given a clear vision for what we have to do till 2040, and space sector reform is his brainchild. And it’s not only vision but also project approval. We have the support and blessings of political leadership,” he added.

ISRO successfully launched their GSLV–F15 carrying the NVS-02 at 6:23 AM at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This is ISRO‘s 100th launch from the country’s spaceport.

GSLV–F15 is the 17th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and 11th flight with the Indigenous Cryo stage. It is the 8th operational flight of GSLV with an indigenous Cryogenic stage. GSLV–F15 payload fairing is a metallic version with a diameter of 3.4 meters.

ISRO said that the first launch of this year has been successfully accomplished. The GSLV–F15 vehicle launch vehicle precisely injecting the navigation satellite NVS-02 into orbit. This mission is the 100th launch from our launch pads which is a significant milestone for India.”

“Our Space programme was conceived and started by a visionary leader Vikram Sarabhai and taken forward by a generation of leaders.

Till today, we have developed six generations of launch vehicles. The first launch vehicle was developed under the guidance of Satish Dhawan with APJ Abdul Kalam as the project director in 1979. From that till today, including today’s launch, we have accomplished 100 launches,” he added.

India’s space ambitions to soar high in 2025 as ISRO eyes big-ticket missions

Among the highlights is the G1 mission, the first uncrewed test flight under the Gaganyaan program, utilising the advanced Human-rated LVM3 (HRLV3).

• Three PSLV missions are planned for 2025
• They will carry groundbreaking payloads, including electric propulsion system
• ISRO will also launch the recently inducted SSLV

India’s space ambitions are set to soar in 2025 as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) prepares for a robust series of launches. The lineup includes four GSLV Mk II flights and a commercial mission using the powerful LVM3.

Among the highlights is the G1 mission, the first uncrewed test flight under the Gaganyaan program, utilising the advanced Human-rated LVM3 (HRLV3).

Additionally, three PSLV missions are planned, carrying groundbreaking payloads, including electric propulsion systems, quantum communication experiments, and Earth observation technologies.

ISRO will also launch the recently inducted SSLV for a commercial partner and conduct a dedicated mission to test the critical in-flight abort system (TVD2), a pivotal safety feature for the Gaganyaan program. We look at

INDIA’S SPACE PROGRAM IN 2025

Gaganyaan Mission

The launch campaign for the G1 flight of the Gaganyaan program has already commenced. This uncrewed mission, carrying the humanoid Vyomitra in a depressurised crew chamber, will pave the way for subsequent uncrewed flights, G2 and G3, before the crewed flight H1.

The Gaganyaan program encompasses a broader vision, including G4, a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), and G5, a mission to BAS1, the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station.

Notably, flight G1 will also test the newly developed uprated C32 cryogenic upper-stage engine. This significant technological advancement will enhance the launch vehicle’s lifting capabilities by increasing propellant carrying capacity and thrust generation.

Preparing for the Communication Backbone

ISRO is preparing the communication backbone for the upcoming mission of Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksha Station and the man on the moon.

In a crewed mission, 100% crew communication is a must. The launch of the India Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS-1) is scheduled in 2025 with GSLV MK II.

A data relay satellite system is a network of communication satellites that act as intermediaries between spacecraft in orbit and ground stations on Earth.

Instead of directly communicating with ground stations, spacecraft transmit their data to the relay satellite. The relay satellite then forwards this data to the ground station.

This system offers several advantages, including increased communication coverage, especially for spacecraft in low-Earth orbit that frequently lose direct ground station contact.

It also enables higher data transmission rates and more reliable communication links.

By reducing the reliance on ground stations, data relay systems contribute to more cost-effective and easier-to-maintain space operations. Apart from IDRSS, the existing systems are NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) and the European Data Relay System (EDRS).

Preparing for Test Vehicle Demonstration 2 (TVD2)

The Indian space agency is also preparing for Test Vehicle Demonstration 2 (TVD2), a crucial step in validating the operational capabilities of the in-flight abort system for the Gaganyaan program.

This test will utilise a modified Liquid Vikas stage (L40) of the GSLV Mk II as the test vehicle.

Building upon the success of TVD1, which demonstrated the “In-flight Abort Demonstration of Crew Escape System (CES)” at Mach 1.2, TVD2 will elevate the testing to the supersonic regime, specifically around Mach 1.4.

This higher altitude and velocity will provide a more realistic and challenging environment to assess the performance of the abort mechanisms.

Beyond evaluating the Crew Escape System, ISRO will also explore alternative mission abort scenarios. These may include utilising the Service Module for an emergency abort, potentially with options for both an “abort to Earth” scenario, where the spacecraft returns to the ground, and an “abort to orbit” scenario, where the spacecraft is guided into a safe orbit.

NISAR- The Most Powerful Earth Observation Satellite

This year will also see the launch of NISAR, the most powerful Earth observation satellite ever built. NISAR, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar mission, is a joint Earth-observing endeavour between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

This advanced satellite will utilize synthetic Aperture Radar technology to map and monitor Earth’s surface with unprecedented detail with complete global coverage every 12 days.

NISAR will provide valuable insights into crucial environmental processes, including ice sheet collapse, sea-level rise, ecosystem disturbances, and natural hazards like earthquakes and landslides.

The mission’s advanced S-band and L-band SARs, which can penetrate clouds and vegetation, will detect movements as small as 1 cm, aiding in the monitoring of natural hazards and environmental changes.

Test of Quantum and Electric Propulsion

The TDS01 (Technology Demonstration Satellite) is poised to test several cutting-edge technologies, pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

One key experiment involves demonstrating the capabilities of 300mN stationary plasma thrusters (SPTs), a type of electric propulsion system.

While ISRO has previously flown 18mN electric propulsion thrusters on GSAT-9, these were primarily used for North-South Station Keeping, a crucial manoeuvre for maintaining the satellite’s orientation.

TDS01 will showcase the potential of these more powerful SPTs to perform orbit-raising manoeuvres for geostationary satellites, significantly enhancing mission flexibility and efficiency.

TDS01 will serve as a platform for demonstrating advancements in quantum communication technologies developed by ISRO.

These experiments include Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for establishing secure communication links, Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG) for generating truly random numbers with applications in cryptography, and Quantum Cryptography for secure data encryption and decryption.

Additionally, the satellite will conduct rigorous evaluations of the performance and reliability of its optical beacon link, a critical component for establishing and maintaining stable communication channels in space.

With the launch manifest ready, the Indian space agency is set to have a busy 2025 with bigger and bolder missions on the horizon.

(IMAGES SOURCE: ISRO & NASA)