24 August 2023, Mumbai: Following the successful landing of India’s third lunar spacecraft, Chandrayaan-3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is embarking on a series of ambitious space missions. ISRO chief S Somanath stated that India’s space program has entered a “golden era,” with major projects in the pipeline.
Aditya L-1
While the recent focus was on ensuring the success of Chandrayaan-3, ISRO is now turning its attention to other significant projects. Somanath emphasized that with the achievement of Chandrayaan-3, India has established itself as a formidable contender in the global space industry. Somanath acknowledged the complexity of lunar missions, describing them as challenging endeavors. He highlighted that India has accomplished a soft landing on the moon in just two missions, solidifying the nation’s prowess in space exploration.
ISRO to Extend its wing till Sun
The success of Chandrayaan-3 has bolstered ISRO’s confidence to explore space more extensively. Somanath revealed that the organization has an array of missions planned for the next three months, with the Aditya L-1 project being the immediate focus. The Aditya L-1 mission, often referred to as India’s first sun mission, is geared towards studying the sun from a unique vantage point. Previously known as Aditya-1, the mission was reconfigured to Aditya L-1 due to its placement in the halo orbit around the first Lagrangian Point (L1) of the sun-earth system. This orbit allows continuous observation of the sun without interruptions caused by occultation or eclipses.
India’s first human spaceflight endeavor.
The Aditya L-1 spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe various layers of the sun’s atmosphere and its corona using electromagnetic, particle, and magnetic field detectors. This mission aims to provide critical insights into coronal heating, coronal mass ejections, solar dynamics, space weather, and more.
Moreover, ISRO announced that the next significant step in its agenda is related to the Gaganyaan mission – India’s first human spaceflight endeavor. The abort mission demonstration for Gaganyaan is scheduled for the last week of September or early October.
Gaganyaan
The Gaganyaan mission involves demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities by launching a crew of three members into orbit for a three-day mission and safely bringing them back to Earth. This project encompasses the development of critical technologies such as a human-rated launch vehicle, life support systems, and crew management aspects. As ISRO continues to achieve remarkable milestones in space exploration, these upcoming missions highlight India’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and technological advancement.
By Yashika Desai