Pursuing the resounding and remarkable success of Chandrayaan-3, India has undeniably etched its name on the skies. India’s ISRO has already kicked off the new year with celestial triumphs.
Following the successful launch of XPoSat on January 1, 2024, and the timely arrival of Aditya-L1 at its destination on January 6, 2024, the nation is poised for a celestial celebration. As ISRO navigates the cosmos, let’s glimpse the six exhilarating missions that await on the horizon for the only country that has accomplished a soft landing on the south pole of the lunar surface.
XPoSat
India marked the beginning of 2024 with a dazzling launch on January 1, as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C58) successfully transported XPoSat, the nation’s inaugural X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite. The scientific mission, lifted off at 9:10 AM, will investigate the polarisation of intense X-ray sources, catapulting India to the forefront of space-based polarimetry.
The mission aims to understand galactic black hole binary sources, shedding light on their intricate characteristics. XPoSat will also check 50 of the brightest known sources in the universe.
NISAR Mission
The NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) project represents a collaborative effort between NASA and ISRO to develop a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory. NISAR is designed to comprehensively map the globe within a 12-day cycle, offering spatially and temporally consistent data.
This data will be instrumental in comprehending changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise, groundwater, and various natural hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.
NISAR is focused on three key disciplines: ecosystems (with a focus on vegetation and the carbon cycle), deformation (about solid Earth studies), and cryosphere sciences (mainly related to climatic drivers and their effects on sea level).
Over the Indian Coasts, NISAR will acquire data to monitor annual changes in bathymetry along deltaic regions. The mission aims to observe shoreline dynamics and erosion-accretion patterns. Additionally, NISAR will play a crucial role in monitoring sea ice characteristics around India’s Antarctic polar stations, offering the capability to detect marine oil spills and provide spill locations during accidental seepages for preventive measures.
Gaganyaan-1
The Gaganyaan project represents a visionary initiative demonstrating India’s human spaceflight capabilities. The mission involves launching a crew of three members into a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission, ultimately bringing them safely back to Earth with a planned landing in Indian sea waters.
This ambitious undertaking is achieved through a meticulously planned strategy, leveraging in-house expertise, the experience of the Indian industry, and the intellectual capabilities of Indian academia and research institutions. The project also incorporates cutting-edge technologies available through international collaborations.
Human safety takes centre stage in the Gaganyaan mission, prompting the development and realisation of various new technologies encompassing Engineering and Human-centric systems.
To ensure the preparedness of astronauts, an Astronaut Training Facility has been established in Bengaluru. This facility provides a comprehensive training program covering Classroom, Physical Fitness, Simulator, and Flight suit training. The training modules include:
- Academic courses.
- Gaganyaan Flight Systems.
- Microgravity familiarisation through Parabolic Flights.
- Aero-medical training.
- Recovery and survival training.
- Mastery of Flight Procedures.
- Hands-on training with Crew Training Simulators.
The training regimen also incorporates aero-medical training, Periodic flying practice, and yoga, emphasising a holistic approach to astronaut preparation and well-being.
Mangalyaan-2
Nearly a decade following the resounding success of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), popularly known as the Mangalyaan Mission, India is gearing up to launch its second spacecraft to the Red Planet later this year.
The upcoming mission is poised to carry four essential payloads, each contributing to a unique aspect of Martian exploration. These payloads include the Mars Orbit Dust Experiment (MODEX), the Radio Occultation (RO) experiment, the Energetic Ion Spectrometer (EIS), and the Langmuir Probe and Electric Field Experiment (LPEX).
These scientific instruments within the payloads are designed explicitly for studying various facets of Mars, ranging from its barren landscape and interplanetary dust to the Martian environment and atmosphere. Additionally, the spacecraft will be equipped with a magnetometer to investigate Mars’ magnetic field and radar technology for mapping the Martian surface in detail.
INSAT-3D
INSAT-3DS, a member of the versatile Indian National Satellite System, represents an upcoming addition to India’s meteorological satellite fleet. This satellite is set to be launched aboard an ISRO GSLV Mk-II rocket on January 10, 2024, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Once in orbit, INSAT-3DS will assume a stationary position, enabling seamless communication. Ground antennas will maintain a fixed connection with the satellite, ensuring uninterrupted data transmission.
As a multipurpose geosynchronous spacecraft, INSAT-3DS is equipped with meteorological payloads, pivotal in weather forecasting and environmental monitoring. Its capabilities will extend to supporting an operational storm warning system, contributing significantly to safeguarding life.
Shukrayaan-1
Mars isn’t the only neighbouring planet capturing ISRO’s attention. Shukrayaan-1, the Venus Orbiter Mission, stands as the Indian space agency’s inaugural expedition to explore the enigmatic depths beneath the fiery surface of Venus.
This mission holds the potential to unravel the mysteries surrounding Venus, particularly its sulfuric acid clouds, which have been a focal point of intense scrutiny due to their potential connection to biological processes.
Shukrayaan-1 is poised to delve into the planet’s geological and volcanic activities, shedding light on its distinctive characteristics. Scheduled for launch in 2024, the mission will enter into a five-year orbit around Venus once it reaches its celestial neighbour, contributing valuable insights to our understanding of this fascinating planetary neighbour.
With these exhilarating missions on the horizon, India is set to embark on a cosmic journey that promises to leave an indelible mark on the sky’s celestial canvas. As ISRO navigates the complexities of space exploration, India stands poised to carve its name among the stars. The future is extremely promising for India’s ISRO. It reiterates India’s affirming position as a rising bright star in space exploration.
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