S.Somnath, Chairman of ISRO, has declared the organization’s grandiose objectives for space exploration in the coming year, 2024. The Indian Space Research Organization intends to launch at least 12 satellites, a significant step forward in its efforts.
The feats of 2023, such as the successful Chandrayaan mission and the launch of Aditya-L1 towards the Sun, lay the framework for ISRO’s long-term dominance. Chairman Somnath said, “We are planning at least 12 missions for 2024.” The successful launch of the first polarimetry mission, the Ex-ray Polarimeter (EXPoSat), demonstrated ISRO’s hardware skills and testing capability.
The recent success of ISRO’s Chandrayaan 3 project and the launch of Aditya L1, India’s first solar observation mission, pave the way for an exciting year ahead. India’s understanding of space is poised to soar when the country launches a series of space missions in 2024, propelled by innovation, cooperation, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of space capabilities.
Here are some of the ISRO 2024 space exploration projects.
- Gaganyaan 1
The Gaganyaan 1 mission, a joint venture of ISRO and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), is set to launch in January or February 2024. This test mission, which can carry three crew members, is a significant step forward for India’s Human Spaceflight Program. The mission aims to position India as a major contributor to human spaceflight efforts by preparing for future manned space exploration.
- Mangalyaan 2 (MOM 2)
ISRO’s ambitious follow-up project following its successful Mars voyage is Mangalyaan-2, also known as Mars Orbiter Project 2 (MOM 2). This mission will gear the orbiter spacecraft with cutting-edge scientific instruments such as a hyperspectral camera, magnetometer, and radar to study Mars’ surface, atmosphere, and climate. MOM 2 showcases India’s developing planetary exploration expertise.
- PSLV-C58 equipped with XPoSat
India launched the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C58) on January 1, 2024, carrying XPoSat, the country’s first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite. This scientific mission, set to launch at 9:10 a.m., will investigate the polarization of intense X-ray sources, propelling India to the forefront of space-based polarimetry. XPoSat will explore 50 of the brightest known sources in the universe, delving into the secrets of pulsars, black hole X-ray binaries, and other phenomena.
- INSAT-3DS
The INSAT-3DS is a crucial communication satellite in the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) series scheduled to launch in January 2024. Its primary goal is to monitor weather systems, assist in disaster management, and improve weather forecasts. The GSLV-MK-II satellite is expected to increase India’s capabilities in weather monitoring and emergency response.
- Satellite X-ray Polarimeter
The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, scheduled to launch in 2024, will investigate the polarisation of cosmic X-rays. It will observe pulsars, black hole X-ray binaries, active galactic nuclei, and non-thermal supernova remnants for at least five years. This mission will advance our understanding of the universe by giving essential insights into the mechanics of celestial objects.
- Shukrayaan-1
As part of the Venus Orbiter Mission, ISRO plans to launch Shukrayaan-1, a spacecraft that will circle Venus for five years. This ambitious project, set to launch in December 2024 or 2025, would examine Venus’s atmosphere, marking India’s first foray into the mysteries of the Sun’s second planet.
Five hundred twenty-three startups and enterprises had interacted with IN-SPACe, ISRO’s commercial arm, as of November 2023, with 297 asking for R&D and testing support. The increased private participation stems from the government’s goal to open up the space industry, ushering in a new era of innovation and collaboration. This collaboration between government and private sector organizations propels India’s space exploration capabilities to unprecedented heights.
- NISAR
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), scheduled to launch in January 2024, is a groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and ISRO. This dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar spacecraft will revolutionize remote sensing by mapping the Earth every 12 days. The data it collects will help us comprehend Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, plant biomass, rising sea levels, groundwater, and natural hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.
