New Delhi: Speaking on the sidelines of the 35th Convocation Ceremony at the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan provided an update of missions approved by the Union Cabinet a year ago. Narayanan said, “Government has given approval for Chandrayaan 4 sample return mission, Venus Orbiter Mission. We are building our own space station also, first module project is approved. We are studying crewed lunar mission. Right now we have 56 satellites in orbit, this number has to be increased by at least three times in another three years timeframe. Lot of missions are given by honourable Prime Minister of India, so we are all working towards that. Then we have to ensure safety and security of citizens of India, towards that whatever is required with space, we have to work. All the developments for Gaganyaan are nearing completion. Now, we are planning three uncrewed missions before the crewed mission. First uncrewed mission is targeted somewhere towards the end of this year.”
Chandrayaan 4 is the first sample return mission by India with ISRO aiming to launch the mission in 2028. The details of the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) or Shukrayaan are being worked out, and an atmospheric probe remains on the table. ISRO plans to deploy the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2028, and fully assemble the orbital complex in space by 2035. There are eight flights in the Gaganyaan programme out of which two are crewed, with a planned launch cadence of a flight every six months. India is accelerating the deployment of Earth Observation Satellites to address gaps in capabilities, and is working closely with private industries, including New Space startups to meet this requirement.
ISRO’s Mars ambitions
Speaking on the development of the indigenous semicryogenic engine SE2000, the planned replacement of the core stage of the LVM3 rocket, V Narayanan said, “Semicryogenic engine right now we are doing the power head test. Except thrust chamber all the works are going on, and we are gearing up for the testing of the fully integrated engine.” The third hot test of the semicryogenic engine was conducted on 28 May. ISRO is building the Third Launch Pad, with a budget of Rs 3,985 cores, to accommodate its mightiest rockets. Narayanan also confirmed that the work had commenced on the Third Launch Pad, “Third Launch Pad, the work has started, so it is a four years timeframe. Third Launch Pad is in Sriharikota only.”
The details of the Mars Lander Mission (MLM), India’s return to the Red Planet are being worked out. Narayanan said, “Mars lander mission is yet to be approved. Chandrayaan when we started, we started with an orbiter mission. Chandrayaan 3 we landed, and Chandrayaan 4 is going to be a sample return mission. Similarly, Mars, we have done the orbiter already, with India becoming the first country in the first attempt. Now we are in the process of studying for a lander mission, but that project is yet to be approved.” ISRO is developing a sky crane for MLM. The Space Commission has approved the mission, with the next step being approval by the Union Cabinet.