ISRO Missions

GS 3 – Science and technology

Why in News?

ISRO concluded its 2024 launch schedule with the successful completion of the PSLV C60 mission.

Key ISRO Missions of 2024

1. PSLV C58 and POEM-3

• PSLV C58: The year began with the launch of XPoSat.
• POEM-3: The PSLV C58 mission also conducted the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 experiment using the PS4 stage.

2. Aditya-L1 Solar Mission

• Launched in January 2024, Aditya-L1 became India’s first solar mission to enter its final orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrangian Point (L1).

3. INSAT-3DS Mission

• The GSLV-F14 successfully launched this meteorological satellite into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

4. Air Breathing Propulsion Technology (ABPS)

• ISRO completed the second experimental flight to demonstrate Air Breathing Propulsion Technology.

5. Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Demonstrations

• The autonomous landing capability of the reusable launch vehicle (Pushpak) was demonstrated in RLV LEX-02 and LEX-03 missions under challenging release and wind conditions.

6. HLVM-3 Assembly

• ISRO began assembling the human-rated LVM-3 (HLVM-3) for its uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, marking the launch campaign for the HLVM-3 G1/OM-1 mission.

7. Axiom-4 Mission

• Two Indian crew members, Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, were selected for this private mission to the International Space Station.

8. PSLV C59

• Successfully placed ESA’s Proba-3 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit of 600 km x 60,500 km.

 

Upcoming ISRO Missions in 2025

1. Uncrewed HLVM-3 for Gaganyaan

• Testing the three-stage human-rated launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission.

2. NISAR Mission

• The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, set to launch in March 2025, is the world’s costliest earth imaging satellite. It will provide high-resolution data and focus on global environmental changes.

3. Advanced NVS-02 Satellite

• Part of India’s NavIC system to enhance navigation capabilities.

4. Deployment of Vyommitra

• Indian humanoid robot Vyommitra will be launched alongside the uncrewed Gaganyaan test mission.

These advancements continue to establish ISRO as a leader in innovative and impactful space exploration.