ISRO’s Milestones in 2024: A Year of Groundbreaking Space Missions

Context : In 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed a busy year with 15 successful missions, marking major milestones in India's space exploration journey. The year concluded with the PSLV C60 mission, which was a significant achievement for ISRO.

Key Missions of ISRO in 2024

1. PSLV C58 Mission

   • XPoSat, a space observatory, was launched using the PSLV C58 mission.
   • The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) experiment was also carried out with the PS4 stage of PSLV C58.

2. Aditya L1 Solar Mission

   • In January 2024, India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1, successfully entered its final orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point (L1).
   • This mission will help us understand the Sun’s behavior and its impact on Earth.

3. INSAT-3DS Mission

   • The INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite was launched using GSLV-F14.
   • It was placed in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) to enhance weather monitoring in India.

4. ABPS (Air Breathing Propulsion Technology)

   • ISRO successfully conducted the second experimental flight for the Air Breathing Propulsion Technology to improve rocket engines.

5. Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)

   • RLV LEX-02 and LEX-03 demonstrated the autonomous landing of the Reusable Launch Vehicle under challenging conditions.
   • Pushpak, a reusable test vehicle, was also tested.

6. HLVM 3 (Human-Rated Launch Vehicle Mark 3)

   • In December 2024, ISRO began assembling the HLVM-3 for its first uncrewed mission as part of the Gaganyaan series.
   • The G1 mission will test the orbital module (OM-1) with no crew on board.

7. Axiom-4 Mission

   • Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair were selected as the first Indian crew members for the Axiom-4 mission, a private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS).

8. PSLV C59 Mission

   • The PSLV C59 mission successfully launched the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 spacecrafts into a highly elliptical orbit.

PSLV C60 Mission: A Major Milestone

The PSLV C60 mission was an important mission with two key components:

1. SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment)

   • SpaDeX is a precursor to future ISRO missions, such as Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) and Chandrayaan-4.
   • It aims to demonstrate in-orbit docking, which is crucial for space station missions.

2. POEM-4 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4)

   • POEM-4 included 24 payload experiments. These experiments are crucial for future space missions and space technology advancements.

Key Payloads of POEM-4

• Walking Robotic Arm: A robotic arm developed by ISRO’s Inertial Systems Unit (IISU). It will demonstrate the inch-worm walking technique to move to defined targets.
• Debris Capture Robotic Manipulator: Developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), it aims to capture space debris using robotic technology.
• Compact Research Module: Studied the growth of cowpea seeds in space.
• Amity Plant Experimental Module in Space (APEMS): Investigates the growth of spinach plants in microgravity.
• RVSat-1: Measures the growth of a gut bacterium, helping us understand human physiology in space.
• Multi-Sensor Inertial Reference System (MIRS): Demonstrates the performance of miniaturized inertial sensors in space.
• Electron Temperature Analyser (ETA): Measures electron temperature and density in planetary ionospheres.
• Swetchasat: Demonstrates the operational ability of a UHF transmitter for communication with the ISRO ground station.
• MOI-TD: A technology demonstrator for AI experiments in space.

Upcoming ISRO Missions in 2025

1. Uncrewed HLVM 3 Mission

   • The Human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark 3 will be tested for the Gaganyaan mission to send humans into space in the future.

2. NISAR Mission (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)

   • Launch in March 2025: The NISAR mission will be the world’s most expensive Earth-imaging satellite, which will help monitor global environmental changes.
   • It will scan land and ice every 12 days.

3. Advanced NVS-02 Satellite

   • This satellite is part of India’s NavIC system (Navigation with Indian Constellation) and will improve India's satellite navigation capabilities.

4. Vyommitra (Indian Humanoid Robot)

   • Vyommitra, India’s first humanoid robot, will be launched with the uncrewed test mission for Gaganyaan. It will be a key step towards the first human spaceflight.

Conclusion

ISRO’s achievements in 2024 have set the stage for India’s future in space exploration. From the successful launch of missions like Aditya L1 and INSAT-3DS to experimental technologies like SpaDeX and RLV, ISRO is steadily advancing its space capabilities. With upcoming missions like NISAR and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight, India is on track to further enhance its presence in the global space arena.