Isro missile | Representative image
2023 was a monumental year for the Indian Space Research Organization (Isro), culminating with the triumphant landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon’s south pole. For ISRO, this success served as a springboard for an even more ambitious 2024. With around twelve missions on the agenda, here is an overview of the top seven:
ISRO started 2024 with the successful launch of Aditya L1 in January, an ambitious mission that deployed the spacecraft at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 to unravel the mysteries of the solar corona. This mission is crucial for understanding solar flares and their impact on Earth’s space environment. As of January 6, 2024, the Solar Observatory’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft has been successfully placed in a halo orbit around the L1 point between the Sun and Earth. The L1 point is located about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth and allows the spacecraft to continuously observe the Sun.
1. NASA-Isro synthetic aperture radar (NISAR): NISAR, a partnership between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) and Isro, will revolutionize Earth observation. Operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), this observatory will complete global mapping every twelve days and provide comprehensive data on Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, rising sea levels and natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
2.Gaganyaan-1 mission: This aims to be India’s first manned space mission. The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capabilities by sending a three-member crew into orbit at an altitude of 400 km for a three-day mission. The goal is to return the crew safely to Earth, with a planned landing in the waters of the Indian Ocean.
3. Shukrayaan-1 mission: This mission aims to study Venus, the second planet from the Sun. The mission is expected to be launched in the last months of 2024 and will be India’s first mission to Venus. The mission will study the planet’s atmosphere, surface and geology, providing valuable insights into the planet’s evolution.
4. Mangalyaan-2 mission: Building on previous successes, Isro aims to launch the second edition of the Mars Orbiter mission in the second half of 2024. This mission aims to deepen our understanding of Mars’ surface, atmosphere and climatic conditions.
5. RISAT-1A mission: RISAT-1A is not just an average satellite. It’s like having x-ray glasses for the Earth, which can see through clouds, darkness and even rough weather. Modeled after the successful RISAT-1, this radar imaging satellite aims to provide valuable insights into the management of land, ocean and water resources. Unlike optical satellites that rely on sunlight, RISAT-1A uses radar technology to reflect radio waves from the Earth’s surface, creating detailed images regardless of time, weather or lighting conditions.
6. XPoSat mission: India’s first polarimetry mission, XPoSat, will launch in the first half of 2024. This satellite will investigate the dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources under extreme conditions and shed light on cosmic phenomena.
7.INSAT-3DS satellite: This satellite serves as the successor to the third generation meteorological satellite in geostationary orbit. The INSAT-3DS mission is tailored to advance meteorological observations. Key objectives include improving weather forecasting capabilities and facilitating disaster warnings through comprehensive monitoring of both land and ocean surfaces.
First print: February 20, 2024 | 1:34 PM IST