Isro Launch

Kulasekarapattinam spaceport will see first SSLV launch in 2027: Isro chief

The Kulasekarapattinam spaceport in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district, the second launch complex for ISRO outside Andhra Pradesh, will see the maiden launch with the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in 24 months, chairman of the space agency V Narayanan said on Monday. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) SSLV will primarily support polar launches of upto 500 kg, with Indian industry involved in its production. "All facilities will be commissioned for launch in 24 months. The first launch will take place in two years. Don't think it will be literally small in size. It will be a 500 kg satellite," Narayanan told reporters after inaugurating a new research centre at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras - S Ramakrishnan Centre of Excellence for Research in Fluid and Thermal Science (ISRO-IITM).' Named after the former director of ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and a distinguished alumnus of IIT Madras, the Centre inaugurated in the presence of IIT-Madras directo

Isro delays SpaDeX docking to Jan 9 for validation by ground simulations

ISRO on Monday said the docking experiment of SpaDeX satellites scheduled for January 7 is now postponed to January 9. The Bengaluru-based space agency said the docking process requires further validation through ground simulations based on an abort scenario identified on Monday. "The SpaDeX Docking scheduled on (January) 7th is now postponed to 9th. The docking process requires further validation through ground simulations based on an abort scenario identified today," ISRO said in a post on 'X'. ISRO had successfully launched the ambitious Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on December 30. The PSLV C60 rocket carrying two small satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), along with 24 payloads, had lifted off from the first launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, and about 15 minutes after liftoff, the two small spacecraft weighing about 220 kg each were launched into a 475-km circular orbit as intended. According to ISRO, SpaDeX mission is a ...

Prep for Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyan to NISAR: What's in Isro's kitty for 2025

Apart from the SPADEX, Isro is focussing on multiple missions, ranging from the conventional satellite launches to unconventional space exploration programmes

Space docking experiment: Spacecrafts separated successfully, says Isro

ISRO's PSLV-C60 rocket carrying two spacecraft that would aid in demonstration of space docking, a critical technology for future space missions, lifted off from the spaceport here late on Monday. Billed as a prelude to ISRO's setting up its own Space Station by 2035, the 44.5 metre tall Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carried Spacecraft A and B, each weighing 220kg that would help in space docking, satellite servicing and interplanetary missions. Upon the conclusion of the 25-hour countdown, PSLV-C60 in its 62nd flight lifted-off majestically, emanating thick orange colour fumes, from the first launch pad at this spaceport. The lift-off was originally planned at 9.58 pm on Monday but ISRO authorities later rescheduled to 10 pm. However, there was no official information behind the reason for the rescheduling. By mastering the space docking technologies, ISRO is set to enhance its operational flexibility besides expanding its mission horizons. Apart from the SpaDeX mission,

Isro to launch historic PSLV-C60 SpaDex mission tonight; where to watch?

Showcasing India's spacecraft docking capabilities is crucial for advancing future space missions, including lunar exploration and development of India's own space station, Bharatiya Antariksh Station

SpaDeX mission for space docking tech to be launched on Dec 30: Isro

India's SpaDeX mission, intended to develop and demonstrate technology required to dock and undock spacecraft in space, will be launched using PSLV-C60 on December 30 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, ISRO said. On December 21, the launch vehicle was integrated and moved to the First Launch Pad, for further integration of satellites and launch preparations. ISRO has also put up the fast time-lapse video of the moving of PSLV-C60, which was fully integrated up to PS4 at the PIF facility for the first time, to the First Launch Pad, in its X account. On December 30, people can witness the launch live at the Launch View Gallery after registering for it. The registration started on Monday at 6 pm, ISRO said in its website. SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of 'in-space docking' using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV, ISRO said in an explainer on the subject. This technology is essential for India's space ambitions

Isro launches Europe's Proba-3 mission to orbit: Why it's crucial to India?

ISRO today successfully launched European Space Agency's Proba-3 satellites into Earth's orbit from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota launchpad. Previously, it was scheduled for Dec 4

Isro to launch Proba-3 mission satellites on December 4 from Sriharikota

Isro will launch the PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission on December 4 from Sriharikota. The mission, in collaboration with European Space Agency, aims to study the Sun's corona using precision formation flying

ISRO sets up first space education lab in AP's Keyi Panyor district

In Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district, ISRO opens its first space education lab. It was inaugurated by state Education Minister Pasang Dorjee and set up in collab with Vyomika Space Academy

India to celebrate first National Space Day tomorrow; All you should know

India to celebrate its maiden National Space Day tomorrow, August 23, 2023, marking the one-year anniversary of the historic success of Chandrayaan-3 mission

Isro targets to launch first Gaganyaan mission by December: Chairman

ISRO has targeted to launch the first mission of the ambitious Gaganyaan project by December, a top official said here on Friday. Currently, some of the rocket hardware for the human space programme has reached the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here and the integration of the crew module was going on at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Trivandrum, ISRO Chairman S Somanath said. "Today, we are working on the first mission of the Gaganyaan called G1. The first unmanned mission. The status today is the rocket, the S200 stage, the L1, C32 stage are all at Satish Dhawan Space Centre," he said. He said the Crew Module integration was going on at VSSC Trivandrum while Crew Escape hardware was also ready. "So, we have to complete with full wiring and testing should be done. Our target is by November the whole system will reach here, possibly by December launch will happen," he said, responding to a query. Somanath was talking to reporters after successfully launching the third and final ..

Countdown begins for Isro's final developmental flight SSLV-D3-EOS8 mission

The countdown for the launch of an earth observation satellite, onboard the third and final development flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle-03 commenced on Friday, ISRO said. The SSLV-D3-EOS-08 mission follows the second successful launch of the second test flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2-EOS-07) in February 2023. Today's mission is the third for the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency in 2024, after the successful PSLV-C58/XpoSat in January and GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS missions in February. In an update on Friday, ISRO said, "SSLV-D3-EOS-08 Mission -- Six-and-a-half-hour countdown leading to the launch commenced at 02.47 hrs IST". The smallest SSLV rocket, which measures about 34 metre in height, was planned to be launched on August 15 at 9.17 am and was later rescheduled to August 16, at 9.19 am from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre here. The primary objectives of the SSLV-D3-EOS-08 mission include designing and developing a microsatellite

Isro to have second trial flight of unmanned Gaganyaan mission today

After the airdrop test on April 24, two more uncrewed missions are slated for 2025, leading up to the manned mission by the end of the next year, pending successful operations

India targets debris-free space missions by 2030: Isro chief Somanath

ISRO Chairman S Somanath on Tuesday announced that India aims to achieve debris-free space missions by 2030. Addressing the 42nd Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) annual meet here, he said ISRO has a very clearly laid out plan as far as space exploration and space utilisation are concerned for the coming days. "It is one of the intent or initiative of India to ensure that debris-free space missions are conducted so as to ensure the sustainability of space. I would like to make this initiative a declaration today, possibly this can be discussed and debated in the coming days," Somanath, also Secretary in the Department of Space, said. "This initiative aims to achieve debris-free space missions by all Indian space actors, governmental and non-governmental, by 2030. India also encourages all state space actors to follow this initiative for long-term sustainability of outer space," he said. "Currently, we have 54 spacecraft in orbit, plus there are non-functional .

Isro successfully executes landing mission of RLV 'Pushpak' in Karnataka

This is the third successful RLV launch mission conducted by the Isro and is estimated to have cost more than Rs 100 crore

Isro to test reusable space launch vehicle 'Pushpak' in Karnataka today

Isro says RLV-TD will be scaled up to become the first stage of India's reusable two-stage orbital launch vehicle

From Mangalyaan-2 to Shukrayaan-1, here's what Isro is planning in 2024

After the success of Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 in 2023, Isro has a lot planned in 2024. Here's a look at the upcoming mission

LIVE: Aditya-L1 is at the right place, says Isro chief S Somanath

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Isro gears up to put Aditya-L1 in its final destination orbit on Jan 6

ISRO has geared up to perform a crucial manoeuvre on Saturday to put Aditya-L1 spacecraft -- the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun -- into its final destination orbit, some 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth. According to ISRO officials, the spacecraft will be placed in a halo orbit around Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, about 1.5 million km from the Earth. The L1 point is about one per cent of the total distance between the Earth and the Sun. A satellite in a halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultations/eclipses, they said, adding, this will provide a greater advantage in observing solar activities and its effect on space weather in real time. "This manoeuvre (at around 4 pm on Saturday) will bind the Aditya-L1 to a halo orbit around L1. If we don't do this, there is a possibility that it will continue its journey, maybe towards the Sun," an ISRO official told PTI on Friday. Th

In a first, Isro satellite to launch on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. Details

Indian communications satellite GSAT-20 is set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket later this year