After a successful year that witnessed remarkable achievements in space exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for an even more ambitious 2024. Chairman S Somanath announced on Monday that ISRO plans to carry out at least 12 space missions this year, surpassing their previous records.
In 2023, ISRO achieved significant milestones, including the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft near the lunar south pole and the launch of India’s first sun observatory, the Aditya-L1. These accomplishments have propelled ISRO to set higher goals for the following year.
The chairman highlighted that the year 2024 will be dedicated to comprehensive preparations for the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human space flight mission. Somanath stated, 2024 is going to be a year to prepare for Gaganyaan. The agency aims to conduct two additional rounds of tests this year before embarking on the final mission, which is tentatively scheduled for 2025.
The Gaganyaan mission will involve sending a crew of three astronauts into orbit 400km above the Earth’s surface for a three-day mission before returning them safely. As part of the preparation, ISRO plans to conduct a test flight with a humanoid robot named Vyomitra and an unmanned flight. These steps will precede the manned Gaganyaan mission and demonstrate the agency’s commitment to ensuring the safety and success of the mission.
Several critical technologies must be developed before the Gaganyaan mission can proceed. These include a human-rated launch vehicle capable of transporting the crew to and from space, life support systems that can maintain an Earth-like environment, and an emergency escape system.
ISRO has been diligently working on these prerequisites. In February 2023, they partnered with the Indian Navy to conduct recovery trials of the crew module in Kochi. These trials played a vital role in preparing for crew module recovery operations during the Gaganyaan mission. The agency also conducted a successful test of the Gaganyaan service module propulsion system in July and performed the first developmental flight of the test vehicle (TV-D1) with the crew escape system demonstration in October.
With its ambitious plans for 2024, ISRO aims to further solidify India’s position in the global space exploration arena. The achievements in the previous year have undoubtedly raised expectations, and the nation eagerly anticipates the upcoming launches that will contribute to scientific progress and technological advancements.
The Indian Space Research Organisation continues to push boundaries, inspiring not only the scientific community but also the general public. As ISRO sets its sights on the Gaganyaan mission, the year 2024 promises to be another remarkable chapter in India’s space exploration journey.
