ISRO's Stellar 2024: 7 Ambitious Space Missions Illuminate The Skies

ISRO's success with the Chandrayaan 3 mission and the launch of India's first solar observation mission, Aditya L1, in the past year, has set the stage for another adventurous year ahead. As a series of space exploration missions is embarked upon in 2024, India's understanding of outer space is poised to reach new heights, fueled by innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of space capabilities, reported CNBCTV18.

PSLV-C58 with XPoSat

Launched on January 1, 2024, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C58) carries XPoSat, India's first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite. Investigating the polarization of intense X-ray sources, XPoSat aims to study 50 of the brightest known sources in the universe, unravelling the secrets of pulsars, black hole X-ray binaries, and more.

NISAR

Scheduled for launch in January 2024, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) represents a groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and ISRO. This dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar satellite will revolutionise remote sensing, mapping the globe every 12 days, and offering invaluable insights into Earth's ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise, groundwater, and natural hazards.

INSAT-3DS

Set for a prospective launch in January 2024, the INSAT-3DS is a crucial communication satellite within the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) series. Its primary mission is to monitor weather systems, facilitate disaster management, and improve meteorological forecasts.

Gaganyaan 1

In a collaborative effort between ISRO and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the Gaganyaan 1 mission is set to launch in January or February 2024. This test flight, accommodating three crew members, marks a pivotal step toward India's Human Spaceflight Programme.

Mangalyaan-2 (MOM 2)

Mangalyaan-2, or Mars Orbiter Mission 2 (MOM 2), is ISRO's ambitious sequel to its successful Mars mission. This mission, aimed at studying the surface, atmosphere, and climatic conditions of Mars, will equip the orbiter spacecraft with advanced scientific instruments.

X-ray Polarimeter Satellite

Launching in 2024, the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite is designed to investigate the polarisation of cosmic X-rays. Operational for a minimum of five years, it will observe pulsars, black hole X-ray binaries, active galactic nuclei, and non-thermal supernova remnants.

Shukrayaan-1

Under the Venus Orbiter Mission, ISRO plans to launch Shukrayaan-1, a spacecraft destined to orbit Venus for five years. Scheduled for December 2024 or 2025, this ambitious mission aims to study the atmosphere of Venus, marking India's first foray into exploring the mysteries of the second planet from the Sun.

As of November 2023, 523 startups and companies have engaged with IN-SPACe, ISRO's commercial arm, with 297 seeking support for R&D and testing, according to the data curated by CNBCTV18. The surge in private participation follows the government's decision to open up the space sector, ushering in a new era of innovation and collaboration. This collaboration between public and private entities is propelling India's space exploration capabilities to new heights.