India is working towards becoming self-reliant in the space sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, adding that the country will have its own space station in the near future. In his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, PM Modi said the nation is proud of its space sector.

“IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is back from the International Space Station (ISS). Soon he will return to India. We are working on becoming self-reliant in the space sector, preparing for the launch of Gaganyaan, which is India’s flagship human spaceflight programme. We will make our own space station,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

As India’s first astronaut to have visited the International Space Station, Shukla has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage, and pioneering spirit. He became the second Indian astronaut to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 odyssey.

According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the experience gained by Shukla onboard the International Space Station will be extremely valuable for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. The Prime Minister also said that reforms brought in in recent times have enabled over 300 startups which are working in the space sector.

“Thousands of youth are working on India’s space dream. This is the power of our youth. This is the confidence we have in our youth,” PM Modi said. Last month, ISRO took a step closer to the Gaganyaan Mission with the successful development of a key engine.

The two hot tests for the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) have been completed. The Gaganyaan programme aims to demonstrate India’s capability to launch a crewed spacecraft into low Earth orbit. ISRO aims to launch at least two key projects under the Gaganyaan mission this year — a second test vehicle and an uncrewed mission. The uncrewed orbital test mission will pave the way for India’s human spaceflight programme.

This will validate systems for crew safety and recovery. Meanwhile, Indian space startups have received $430 million in investment till March this year, said Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, in Parliament, citing the success of opening up the space industry to the private sector.

To promote the participation of private entities in the space sector, the government had, in June 2020, established the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) as an autonomous agency under the Department of Space (DoS) in India. IN-SPACe has, so far, facilitated the transfer of 93 technologies developed by ISRO.

–IANS

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA are set to launch their collaborative Earth observation satellite, NISAR, on Wednesday, at 5:40 p.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The mission, valued at $1.5 billion, aims to revolutionise the way we monitor Earth’s surface, particularly in tracking natural disasters and environmental changes. NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a landmark project, marking the first time the Earth will be observed using dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar, NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band. These radars will be operated using NASA’s 12-meter unfurlable mesh reflector antenna, mounted on ISRO’s customized I-3K satellite bus.

Weighing 2,392 kilograms, the satellite will be carried into space aboard India’s GSLV-F16 rocket. The satellite will be inserted into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 740 km, where it will scan the Earth’s landmass and ice-covered surfaces every 12 days with high-resolution imagery over a 242-kilometer swath, utilizing SweepSAR technology for the first time.

“The Earth observation satellite jointly developed by ISRO and NASA will be sent into space on July 30 by the GSLV-F16 rocket made in India,” said ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. He emphasised the satellite’s role in providing 24×7 imagery regardless of weather or lighting conditions.

Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport on Sunday night (July 27), Narayanan added, “It can take pictures of the Earth 24 hours a day in all weather conditions and the satellite can detect landslides, aid in disaster management and monitor climate change.”

Earlier on Sunday, the Department of Space said in a press release, “The NISAR mission combines the technological expertise of both agencies. NASA has contributed the L-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a high-rate telecommunication subsystem, GPS receivers, and a deployable 12-meter unfurlable antenna. ISRO, on its part, has provided the S-Band SAR payload, the spacecraft bus to accommodate both payloads, the GSLV-F16 launch vehicle, and all associated launch services.”

-IANS

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Thursday that with the successful docking of the satellites of the SpaDEX mission, India became the fourth nation to ace the space docking technology.

ISRO informed the merging of two small spacecraft — SDX01, the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target — weighing about 220 kg each. The satellites were part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, which lifted off aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, from Sriharikota on December 30. India is now the fourth country, after the US, Russia, and China, to master the docking technology.

“Docking Success Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment,” ISRO shared in a post on social media platform X. “Docking successfully completed. India became the 4th country to achieve successful Space Docking. Congratulations to the entire team! Congratulations to India!” it added. Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary DOS, Chairman of Space Commission, and Chairman ISRO, congratulated the team ISRO.

On Sunday, the two satellites came as close as three metres in a trial attempt for space docking up to 15 m. It later moved back to a safe distance. But now, “manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point completed,” ISRO said while noting that the docking was achieved “with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture”.

“Retraction completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability”. The docking technology was indigenously developed and has been named the ‘Bharatiya Docking System’. It includes a docking mechanism, a suite of four rendezvous and docking sensors, power transfer technology, indigenous novel autonomous rendezvous and docking strategy, and an inter-satellite communication link (ISL) for autonomous communication between spacecraft, incorporated with inbuilt intelligence to know the states of the other spacecraft, among others.

ISRO believes the SpaDeX mission will help establish India’s capability in orbital docking — a key technology for future human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions. In addition to joining the elite club of spacefaring nations, docking technology is also key for India’s impending space missions including the Moon mission, setting up the Indian space station, and lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4 without the support of GNSS from Earth.

According to ISRO, it will also demonstrate the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics — composite spacecraft control, and payload operations after undocking.

–IANS

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While India has proved its prowess in precision landing with Chandrayaan-3, the impending SpaDeX mission will achieve a historic space docking feat, said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aims to launch the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, at 21:58 IST from Sriharikota on December 30.

The mission aims to dock two satellites in space, a challenge only mastered by the US, Russia, and China, so far. “ISRO’s year-end mission is going to be a historic one as it will seek the rare feat of docking or merging or joining together two satellites in space,” Singh said, adding that “the indigenous technology used for this mission is called the ‘Bharatiya Docking System’”.

“SpaDEX will mark a milestone, showcasing India’s expertise in spacecraft docking technology,” Singh noted.

The success of this mission is vital for India’s future space ambitions. Docking technology will help upcoming missions like Chandrayaan-4 and the planned Indian space station, expected to be ready by 2035. It is also crucial for the eventual manned Gaganyaan mission, expected to launch in 2026.

With SpaDeX, “ISRO will attempt to dock two satellites orbiting at speeds of 28,800 km/h”. And both satellites must be carefully manoeuvred to reduce their relative velocities to a mere 0.036 km/h”.

The two satellites, SDX01 or Chaser and SDX02 or Target, will merge to form a single unit in space. Each satellite weighs around 220 kilograms and will orbit 470 km above Earth.

The mission aims to include performing precision rendezvous and docking manoeuvres, validating power transfer between docked spacecraft, and operating payloads post-undocking, with a two-year lifespan. SpaDEX will also use PSLV’s fourth stage, POEM-4, for experiments.

The stage will carry 24 payloads from academic institutions and startups. These experiments will utilise the microgravity environment in orbit.

–IANS

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The SpaDeX mission, expected to launch this year aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, will propel India to the elite club of nations with space docking capabilities, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 21 December 2024. ISRO aims to launch PSLV-C60 on 30 December. However, the launch window is open till 13 January.

The space agency informed that the mission has completed “all tests and clearances”. The integration of the SpaDeX spacecraft is complete, and the spacecraft has been moved to Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It is currently “undergoing preparations for launch”. While only a few countries have aced the space docking technology, it is key for India for its impending space missions including the Moon mission, and setting up the Indian space station.

“The launch vehicle has been integrated and now moved to the First Launch Pad, for further integration of satellites and launch preparations. ISRO’s SpaDeX mission, launching with PSLV-C60, will demonstrate in-space docking using two small spacecraft. This groundbreaking technology is key to future lunar missions, building Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), and more. India aims to join the elite club of nations with space docking capabilities,” ISRO said in a post on X.

The PSLV will lift off two small spacecraft – SDX01, which is the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target – weighing about 220 kg each. The mission will showcase the docking of the two spacecraft in a low-Earth circular orbit. “In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology,” ISRO said.

It will also demonstrate “the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics — composite spacecraft control, and payload operations after undocking”. ISRO has also developed indigenous technologies to enable this docking mission. This includes a docking mechanism, a suite of four rendezvous and docking sensors, power transfer technology, indigenous novel autonomous rendezvous and docking strategy, inter-satellite communication link (ISL) for autonomous communication between spacecraft, incorporated with inbuilt intelligence to know the states of the other spacecraft, among others. This mission will be a forerunner for autonomous docking needed for future lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4 without the support of GNSS from Earth, ISRO said.

-IANS

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday entered an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to advance human spaceflight missions and boost global collaboration.

“ISRO and ESA have signed an agreement to collaborate on astronaut training, mission implementation, and research experiments, including cooperation for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission. This partnership advances India’s human spaceflight capabilities and global collaboration,” the Indian space agency shared in a post on social media platform X.

The agreement was signed by Dr. S Somanath, Chairman, ISRO/ Secretary, Department of Space, and Dr. Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA. The agreement provides a framework for cooperative activities in human space exploration and research.

This includes areas such as astronaut training, support for experiment development and integration, including the use of ESA facilities on the International Space Station (ISS). Further, the agreement will also enhance human and biomedical research experiment implementation as well as joint education and outreach activities.

“ISRO has defined a roadmap for human space flight activities and the recent approval of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) presents an opportunity to develop interoperability between human spaceflight platforms,” said Somanath.

“The agreement provides a strong basis of cooperation between the two agencies. The leadership of both agencies expressed satisfaction with the progress of joint activities for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission and underlined the need for continuing cooperative activities in the area of human spaceflight in the future,” Aschbacher added.

Both ISRO and ESA are part of the upcoming Axiom-4 mission, led by the American private space habitat company, Axiom Space. It is expected to launch as soon as spring 2025. Even as ISRO’s Gaganyatri and ESA’s astronaut are crew members, both agencies are collaborating to implement shortlisted experiments by Indian principal investigators on ISS, the ISRO said.

Further, participation in ESA’s human physiological studies, technology demonstration experiments as well as joint educational outreach activities are also being pursued, the agency added.

–IANS

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Students are the torchbearers of the future in science and technology and are crucial to realise the vision of making India a global leader, said Dr S Somanath, Chairperson, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) here on Monday. He said this at the 10th edition of India International Science Festival 2024 (IISF 2024) in Guwahati, Assam, being held in association with Vijnana Bharathi, the nodal institute of the event being CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram.

At the event, Somanath interacted with school students and inspired them to explore niche fields in science and technology, emphasising their role in shaping a brighter global future. “As students, you are the torchbearers of the future in science and technology. It is essential for you to grasp the remarkable innovations and advancements taking place in these fields today. By recognising their potential and the opportunities they present, you can draw inspiration to pursue similar paths and contribute to building a brighter tomorrow,” Somanath said. “Reflecting on our current scientific and technological endeavours, your enthusiastic engagement is pivotal in realising the vision of making India a global leader,” he added.

The event, which drew over 20,000 students, also brought policymakers and scientific leaders together under one roof to discuss sustainable practices across science, agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare. “Young innovators have already begun building rockets and satellites in colleges, efforts that are nearing commercial success. Today, India is actively developing and launching satellites, showcasing the immense potential of this field,” said Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram.

“By understanding these advancements and the opportunities in the field of space, science, and technology offered, you can be inspired to pursue similar paths and shape a brighter future. Your active engagement is essential to making India a global leader in science and technology,” he added. The event featured technology transfer MoUs, insightful talks, and knowledge-sharing sessions on a wide range of topics, including sustainability, manufacturing, technology, agriculture, and healthcare, among others.

–IANS

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch its communication satellite aboard the Elon Musk-owned SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The 4700-kilogram GSAT-N2 satellite aims to provide data or Internet services to remote areas. It will also enable the availability of the Internet in aeroplanes across the Indian region. ISRO’s launch vehicle Mark-3 can put 4,000 kg into a geostationary transfer orbit, however, as GSAT-N2 weighs 4,700 kg, the space agency is using SpaceX’s launch vehicle.

This marks ISRO’s first commercial launch using SpaceX. GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20) is a Ka-band high-throughput communication satellite of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), under the Department of Space and the commercial arm of ISRO. The satellite features multiple spot beams and aims to support a large subscriber base with small user terminals. According to ISRO: “GSAT-N2 has a mission life of 14 years… and is equipped with 32 user beams, comprising 8 narrow spot beams over the Northeast region and 24 wide spot beams over the rest of India. These 32 beams will be supported by hub stations located within mainland India. The Ka-Band HTS communication payload provides a throughput of approximately 48 Gbps”. “This homegrown satellite when operational will fill that big hole of in-flight Internet connectivity that exists over India on the world Internet map,” said Dr M Sankaran, Director of UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.

“This is India’s highest throughput satellite and the only one operating exclusively in the much sought-after Ka-band,” says Dr Sankaran. Till now, whenever international flights enter the Indian air space, they have to switch off the Internet as India does not allow this service. But recently, India amended rules to permit in-flight internet access over India. As per the new rules, Wi-Fi services can be provided inside aircraft at an altitude of over 3,000 metres. However, passengers would only be able to use these services when electronic devices are allowed for use on the aircraft.

–IANS

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the European Union’s Proba 3 Sun Observation Mission in December, said Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, on Tuesday.

Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the Indian Space Conclave 3.0 in New Delhi, he said the space scientists from India will partner with those in Europe to unravel the mysteries of the Sun. Proba-3, which aims to study the Sun’s faint corona closer to the solar rim, will be launched on the PSLV-XL rocket, operated by the ISRO.

“The European Union’s large orbiter Proba 3, which will observe the Sun, will go to space from Sriharikota in December,” Singh said. “Space scientists from ISRO and the European Union will observe the Sun’s atmosphere jointly,” he added.

The Proba-3 Sun observation mission includes two satellites that will work together to create a 144-metre-long instrument known as a solar coronagraph. This instrument will help scientists study the Sun’s corona, which is difficult to observe due to the brightness of the solar disk.

The ‘world’s first precision formation flying mission’ will enable scientists to study the Sun’s elusive corona with unprecedented proximity and detail.

Meanwhile, Singh said the space sector, which was “kept under wraps for 60-70 years,” has now been opened to the public sector with the 2023 New Space policy, leading to a significant boom in the industry. He also listed out the ambitious goal of establishing the Indian space station Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035 and landing the first Indian on the Moon by 2040.

Addressing the Indian Space Conclave 3.0, the Minister highlighted that almost every sector in the country is using space technology. He added that space technology fosters the creation of smart cities by providing navigation, satellite imaging, and terrain mapping, among other benefits.

He also underscored India’s vision to increase its contribution to the global space economy from 2 per cent to 10 per cent in the coming years.

–IANS

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India will have its own space station by 2035, which will be known as “Bharatiya Antriksh Station”, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, said on Saturday. He announced the signing of a landmark MoU between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), that aims to integrate biotechnology with space technology, heralding a new era of scientific innovation in the country.

The MoU outlines several key initiatives, including the establishment of a ‘Bharatiya Antriksh Station’ and the unveiling of the ‘BioE3’ (biotechnology for economy, environment and employment) policy. According to the government, the collaboration will focus on areas such as microgravity research, space biotechnology, space biomanufacturing, bioastronautics, and space biology. The minister lauded ISRO Chairman S. Somnath and Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Dr Rajesh Gokhale, for their efforts in making this collaboration possible. “The public-private participation has been instrumental in the rapid growth of India’s space sector,” said Dr Singh, adding that the number of space startups has grown significantly, with nearly 300 startups now contributing to the space economy.

This partnership is expected to benefit the national human space programme and spur innovations in human health research, novel pharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, and bio-based technologies for efficient waste management and recycling. Dr Singh also acknowledged the Department of Biotechnology’s role in developing the first-ever DNA vaccine, which brought global recognition to India’s scientific capabilities.

In September, the Union Cabinet approved the fourth mission to the Moon and also gave a green signal for the building of the first unit of the Bharatiya Antriksh Station (BAS) by 2028. The government had envisaged an Indian Space Station by 2035 and an Indian to land on the lunar surface by 2040. Towards this goal, the Cabinet approved the development of the first module of BAS-1.

–IANS

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