Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched almost double the number of missions between 2015 to 2025 than the ones launched between 2005 to 2015, Chairman V Narayanan said on Thursday, while giving updates on the “phenomenal and exponential” performance of the organisation in Delhi.
The ISRO Chairman also praised Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for being the first Indian to return from the International Space Station (ISS).
“In last 10 years, the progress is phenomenal, exponential. With respect to missions, between 2015 and 2025, the number of missions was almost doubled compared to 2005-2015. During the last six months, three important missions were completed. Axiom 4 mission is a very prestigious mission, successfully accomplished. First Indian to be brought back safely from the International Space Station (ISS), we have the Gaganyaatri Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla,” Narayanan said during the conference.
Narayanan addressed the press conference in Delhi, along with Union Minister Jitendra Singh, and Gaganyaan astronauts Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Nair.
In the briefing, the ISRO Chairman informed that the first uncrewed mission of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, G1, is ready to launch with the half-humanoid robot — Vyommitra — and the launch is expected in December.
“The first uncrewed mission, G1, is going to be lifted off by this year’s end, maybe close to December. And in that, the Vyommitra, the half-humanoid, is going to fly,” Narayanan said, while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing the Gaganyaan programme on August 15, 2018.
Giving an update on the future missions of ISRO, the Chairman mentioned that in the next 2-3 months, another NASA-ISRO mission will be launched, with India’s launch vehicle set to carry a 6,500 kg satellite into orbit.
“In 2-3 months, around 6,500 kg communication satellites of USA are going to be launched using our launch using our launch vehicle. Until today, 433 satellites of 34 countries have been launched from India,” he added.
The ISRO chairman also informed that G20 satellites will be provided to various countries.
Talking about the previous satellites, Narayanan praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the growth of Indian startups and the development of South Asian satellites, which were conceived, built, and launched in India and also donated to countries.
“After Modi took over as Prime Minister, the South Asian satellite was conceived, built, launched and donated to South Asian countries. Under his leadership, we are also realising the G20 satellite for G20 countries. Ten years ago, we had only one startup company in the space industry. Today, we have more than 300 startups in the space industry… There are two suborbital missions done by private companies,” Narayanan said.
Since the launch of rocket on 21 November 1963 from the Thumba area near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, ISRO has launched 133 satellite missions, 102 launch vehicle missions, five technology demonstration missions, and 4217 rockets, and carried out 240 total of missions. Moreover, 433 satellites of 34 countries have been launched in India.
(With inputs from agencies)