Isro

'Proud Moment': Leaders hail Isro's BlueBird Block-2 mission success

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised that this reflects the Government of India's unwavering commitment to strengthening the space sector

Why LVM3-M6 BlueBird Block-2 mission is a milestone for Isro: Details

The LVM3-M6 BlueBird Block-2 is a commercial mission launched by Isro using its LVM3 rocket to place a heavy communication satellite into low Earth orbit

Isro's LVM3 rocket places US communication satellite into low earth orbit

In a dedicated commercial mission, ISRO on Wednesday launched a next-generation US communication satellite BlueBird Block-2 onboard its heaviest vehicle LVM3-M6 from here. As the 24-hour countdown concluded, the 43.5 metre tall rocket supported by two S200 solid boosters lifted off majestically at 8.55 am from the second launch pad at this spaceport, situated about 135 km east of Chennai. After a flight journey of about 15 minutes, the spacecraft BlueBird Block-2 riding piggyback on the rocket, is expected to get separated and reach its intended orbit at an altitude of about 520 km, ISRO said. The mission is being undertaken as part of the commercial agreement signed between NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) and US-based AST SpaceMobile (AST and Science, LLC). NewSpace India Ltd is the commercial arm of ISRO. BlueBird Block-2 mission is part of the global LEO (Low Earth Orbit) constellation to provide direct-to-mobile connectivity through satellite. This constellation would enable 4G and

Isro's LVM3 to launch next-generation communication satellite on Dec 24

ISRO's upcoming LVM3 M6 mission will carry the BlueBird Block-2 satellite into orbit on December 24, as part of a commercial deal with US-based AST SpaceMobile. The historic mission will deploy the next-generation communication satellite designed to provide high-speed cellular broadband directly to smartphones worldwide. AST SpaceMobile (AST & Science, LLC) is building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network, which is accessible directly by smartphones and designed for both commercial and government applications. "We are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today's nearly six billion mobile subscribers and bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected," the company said in its website. AST SpaceMobile has launched five satellites -- BlueBird 1-5 in September 2024, which enable continuous internet coverage across the US and other select countries. The US-based company has planned to launch similar satellites to augment its network ...

Drogue parachute deployment tests for Gaganyaan mission successful: Isro

A series of qualification tests for drogue parachutes, which have been carried out to develop a deceleration system for ISRO's Gaganyaan crew module, were successful, the space agency said on Saturday. These tests were completed at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh, on December 18 and 19, the ISRO said. The deceleration system of the Gaganyaan crew module comprises a total of 10 parachutes of four types, the agency said in a statement. According to ISRO, the descent sequence begins with the separation of two apex cover separation parachutes, which remove the protective cover from the parachute compartment. This is followed by the deployment of two drogue parachutes that stabilise and decelerate the module. "Upon release of the drogues, three pilot parachutes are deployed to extract three main parachutes, which further slow down the crew module to ensure a safe touchdown," ISRO said. The space agency said

India's Digantara raises $50 mn to boost indigenous space surveillance

The Bengaluru-based startup, backed by Peak XV Partners and Kalaari Capital, secured funds from large investors including SBI Holdings Japan, 360 One Asset, and film producer Ronnie Screwvala

200 milestones behind it in 2025, Isro readies for Gaganyaan tests

From a surge in startups to crewed mission preparations, 2025 marks a transformative year as India eyes $44 billion space economy by 2033

Isro in 2025: From Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 to 100th satellite launch

Breakthrough missions, new indigenous tech and the return of an Indian astronaut shaped Isro's eventful 2025, a year that strengthened India's push in space, human flight and undersea exploration

India on course to become superpower by 2047, says fmr ISRO chief Somnath

Former ISRO Chairman S Somnath said that India will be a "superpower" in 2047, with space technology and manufacturing being a supplier to the world. Somnath made these remarks during the inauguration of the 71st convention of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) here on Friday. He asserted that "science and spirituality can coexist, just as faith and reality complement each other", adding that our sages and saints explored mathematics, astronomy, metallurgy, architecture, and medicine, and that our spirituality embodies the insights of modern science. Somnath said that everyone knows that India is progressing, which is instilling a new confidence in the people. He said, "This is the first time that India is being viewed differently in the world, and this is possible because we are pillars of democratic stability." "Today's India is a youthful India, with 25 per cent of the population being young, and this will remain the case for the next 25 years, a position that is ...

India prepares to explore ocean depths with Samudrayaan submersible

Two scientists from a top ocean institute will pilot a 28-tonne indigenously built manned submersible up to 500 metres deep off Chennai coast early next year, marking India's entry in the coveted group of select countries with such capabilities. India's own aquanauts Ramesh Raju and Jatinder Pal Singh from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) will pilot the Matsya-6000 to unravel the mysteries of the ocean as part of India's Deep Ocean Mission. "We have explored the ocean bed at greater depths using remotely operated vehicles. This is for the first time we will be sending humans at a depth of 6,000 metres and safety is paramount for this mission," Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, NIOT, told PTI here. India's Samudrayaan project, spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is also considered as a reflection of the spirit of self-reliance as global tenders were issued twice to procure a manned deep sea submersible, which ran into technology denials, prompting the ...

Karnataka plans ascent into India's space orbit with $22 billion target

State eyes $3 bn in investment and a 50% national share as it ramps up upstream, downstream activities

Isro to triple spacecraft output, launch Chandrayaan-4 in 2028: Chairman

ISRO is gearing up for one of its busiest times with seven more launches planned this financial year, even as India's first human spaceflight remains scheduled for 2027, its chairman V Narayanan said. In an interview with PTI, he said ISRO is preparing for a phase of rapid scaling in science, technology and industry capacity. Narayanan said ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) is targeting seven more launches before the end of the current financial year, including a commercial communication satellite, and multiple PSLV and GSLV missions. A milestone will be the launch of the first PSLV manufactured entirely by the Indian industry. The ISRO chief said the government has approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission, designed as a lunar sample-return mission and it will be India's most complex lunar endeavour yet. "We are targeting 2028 for Chandrayaan-4," he said. Another key mission is LUPEX, the joint lunar polar exploration programme with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). IS

Godrej delivers first human-rate L110 stage Vikas engine to Isro

Godrej's aerospace business on Thursday announced that it has delivered the first human-rated L110 stage Vikas engine to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the Gaganyaan project. The first uncrewed test flight under the Gaganyaan project is planned for early next year and ISRO plans to send first Indian astronauts on a home-built rocket to orbit the Earth in 2027. "This achievement reaffirms our long-standing partnership with ISRO and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), and showcases our capability to deliver mission-critical technology that strengthens India's leadership in space exploration," Maneck Behramkamdin, Executive Vice President and Business Head, Godrej Enterprises Group's Aerospace business, said in a statement. Godrej has been contributing to India's space programme for more than four decades by supplying high-precision engines and components for landmark missions, including Chandrayaan and NISAR. The Gaganyaan mission will use the human-rated LVM-

Isro successfully conducts key parachute test for Gaganyaan mission

The trial, part of an ongoing qualification series for the Gaganyaan mission, focused on validating the main parachutes that ensure a safe landing of the Gaganyaan crew module

Isro collects Chandrayaan-2 data to aid study of Moon's polar regions

ISRO on Saturday said it has collected advanced data from the Chandrayaan-2 lunar orbiter to gain a deeper understanding of the Moon's polar regions, including parameters describing the physical and dielectric properties of its surface. This is India's major value addition towards future global exploration of the Moon, it said. According to an ISRO statement, the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter has been in orbit around the Moon since 2019 and has been providing high-quality data. One of the payloads, the Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR), is the first instrument that has mapped the Moon using the L-band in full-polarimetric mode and in the highest resolution (25m/pixel). This advanced radar mode sends and receives signals in both vertical and horizontal directions, making it ideal for studying surface properties, it said. The space agency said that since its launch, about 1,400 radar datasets have been collected and processed to create polarimetric mosaics of the north and sou

NISAR satellite to be declared operational on November 7: ISRO chief

NASA and ISRO are all set to declare their first-ever jointly developed NISAR satellite operational on Friday, ISRO chairman V Narayanan said here on Wednesday. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), said to be the most expensive Earth observation satellite ever built, has the ability to monitor most of the planet's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days. The 2,400 kg NISAR satellite was launched on July 30 from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre using the GSLV rocket. "Entire data calibration has been completed, and we will have a conclave on November 7 to declare the satellite operational," Narayanan said at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) here. The NISAR mission is the first to carry two SAR systems the L-Band and S-Band sensors. The L-band radar can penetrate forest canopies and measure soil moisture, forest biomass, and the motion of land and ice surfaces. The S-band radar is more sensitive to small vegetation, and can observe cer

Watch: ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ rocket lifts India’s heaviest communication satellite | GSAT-7R | LVM3-M5

India's space ambitions received a significant boost with ISRO's launch of its heaviest satellite, the 4,410 kg GSAT-7R, aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket.

CMS-03 satellite will provide robust telecom coverage across IOR: Navy

The communication satellite CMS-03, will provide robust telecommunication coverage across the Indian Ocean Region, and strengthen Navy's space-based communications and maritime domain awareness capabilities, officials said on Sunday. The satellite, weighing 4,410 kg, will significantly enhance connectivity with high-capacity bandwidth, enabling seamless and secure communication links between ships, aircraft, submarines, and Maritime Operations Centres of the Indian Navy. The indigenously designed and developed satellite was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite and would provide services over a wide oceanic region including the Indian landmass, according to ISRO. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the launch a "major milestone" exemplifying the nation's spirit of 'Aatmanirbharta'. "Congratulations to @isro on the successful launch of CMS-03, ..

Space industry congratulates Isro for successful launch of CMS-03 satellite

Industry bodies on Sunday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the launch of CMS-03, the heaviest satellite to lift-off from Indian soil. At 4410 kg, the CMS-03, a replacement satellite for GSAT-7 used by the Indian Navy, was placed in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) by the LVM-3 rocket on Sunday evening. "The successful launch of the CMS-03 satellite by LVM3 rocket (Bahubali) is a monumental achievement for India, powerfully demonstrating our sovereign capability in launching heavy-payload satellites for strategic applications," Lt Gen Anil K Bhatt (retd.), Director General Indian Space Association (ISpA) said in a statement here. Subba Rao Pavuluri, Chairman of Ananth Technologies Pvt. Ltd (ATL) and President of the Satcom Industry Association-India, said the successful launch of CMS-3, a multi-band military communication satellite demonstrated ISRO's capability to deliver advanced communication infrastructure to the nation. Pavuluri said ATL ...

PM Modi, V-P Radhakrishnan laud Isro on launch of heaviest satellite

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday congratulated ISRO scientists on the successful launch of the heaviest communication satellite from Indian soil. The prime minister's remarks came soon after ISRO placed the 4,410 kg CMS-03 satellite in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) using an LVM-3 rocket. "Our space sector continues to make us proud! Congratulations ISRO on the successful launch of India's heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03," Modi said in a post on X. Besides placing the satellite in the desired orbit, ISRO scientists also demonstrated the re-ignition of the thrust chamber of the C-25 cryogenic engine after it placed the satellite in the orbit. The experiment will help ISRO restart the cryogenic stage and give it the flexibility to place satellites in different orbits. "Powered by our space scientists, it is commendable how our space sector has become synonymous with excellence and innovation. Their successes have furthered