isro-targeting-100-projects-by-2030-chairman-exudes-confidence

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which recently achieved the milestone of completing 100 missions, is now aiming to reach the next century in just five years, according to Chairman V Narayanan.

Speaking after the successful launch of the GSLV F-15/NVS-02 navigation satellite on Wednesday, Narayanan expressed confidence that ISRO could surpass the 200-mission mark within half a decade.

 

 

When asked if the agency could conduct 100 launches over the next five years, Narayanan affirmed the possibility. “You are asking the right question. It is possible,” he said without elaborating further.

From humble beginnings—with rocket parts once transported on cycles and bullock carts—ISRO has emerged as a global leader in space technology.

It is now a key player in commercial satellite launches and has joined an elite league of agencies exploring the Moon and the Sun.

The launch of NVS-02, part of the NavIC constellation, marks a significant achievement. This satellite will aid in terrestrial, aerial, and maritime navigation, as well as precision agriculture.

The GSLV rocket successfully placed the payload in the designated orbit.

ISRO's impressive achievements

In its 46-year journey, ISRO has developed six generations of launch vehicles.

The first launch vehicle, SLV-3 E1, carried the Rohini Technology payload in 1979 under the guidance of Prof Satish Dhawan, with former President APJ Abdul Kalam as project director.

Over the years, ISRO has launched 548 satellites, lifting 120 tonnes of payload, including 23 tonnes of 433 foreign satellites.

Future prospects

Narayanan highlighted several upcoming missions, including the NISAR mission, a collaborative effort with NASA. The Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite mission is expected to launch in a couple of months.

“It is a joint collaboration between NASA and ISRO. There are two radars—one is the L-band radar developed by ISRO, and the other is the S-band radar developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The entire system has been integrated and tested at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. It is ready for transportation to Sriharikota,” Narayanan said.

Regarding navigation satellites, Narayanan stated that four are currently operational.

“Today’s launch is the fifth satellite onboard the GSLV-F15. We have approvals for three more and plan to launch one satellite in the next five to six months,” he added.

New launch facilities

Discussing the upcoming rocket launches from Kulasekarapatinam in Tamil Nadu, Narayanan said, “We are building facilities, and within two years, upon the completion of construction activities, launches will be conducted regularly from there.”

 

He also announced approvals from the central government for the development of Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLVs), capable of carrying payloads weighing 20 tonnes to low Earth orbit or 10 tonnes to the Geostationary Transfer Orbit.

 

Narayanan emphasised the growing demand for such launch vehicles from the industry. These vehicles would be used from a new third launch pad with an estimated cost of ₹4,000 crore.

 

Expanding horizons

 

NGLVs are expected to play a crucial role in future Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5 missions, as well as deep space exploration.

 

Other upcoming launches include a commercial flight of LVM3 by NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) for a foreign customer and a technology demonstration satellite (TDS-01) mission to validate 34 technologies.

 

The TDS-01 will be launched by the first PSLV realised by an industry consortium.

 

Narayanan also mentioned the progress of the uncrewed G1 mission as part of the Gaganyaan programme, with additional experiments planned for this year.

Also read: https://newsarenaindia.com/nation/isro-s-100th-mission-successfully-launched/35033