Reaffirming Europe's and India's commitment to expanding cooperation in space, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed an exchange of letters extending their long-standing Cooperative Agreement for five more years, until January 2032. The exchange between ISRO Chief Dr V Narayanan and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher took place in Paris on the margins of the International Space Summit earlier this month.&nbsp;The renewed agreement reflects the evolving priorities of both sides in the space sector: space weather, human and robotic exploration of space, while also recognising the growing importance of sustainable outer space activities. Last year, the two sides also expressed their intention to deepen cooperation through a Joint Statement of Intent on human exploration. This comes as India is working on sending its astronauts to space and returning them safely on homegrown rocket and spacecraft technology as part of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-russia-has-lost-control-of-its-diesel-industry-calls-for-end-to-ridiculous-never-ending-war-1789999050401">Trump says Russia has ‘lost control’ of its diesel industry, calls for end to ‘ridiculous, never-ending’ war</a>&nbsp;"The partnership between ISRO and ESA has delivered tangible benefits for India and Europe and has demonstrated the value of international cooperation in advancing space activities. The renewal of this agreement reflects the shared ambition of ISRO and ESA to pursue innovation and scientific progress for the benefit of our societies," said ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan, who also serves as Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Cooperative Agreement, which entered into force in January 2002, provides the framework for cooperation between ESA and ISRO across a broad range of space activities. Over the years, ESA and ISRO have worked together on a range of programmes and initiatives spanning Earth observation, satellite navigation, space science and mission operations support.&nbsp;&nbsp;"As space activities expand beyond Earth orbit and new opportunities emerge in exploration, sustainability and advanced technologies, international cooperation remains essential. ESA and ISRO have built a trusted partnership spanning more than two decades, and this renewed agreement positions us to pursue even greater ambitions together while delivering tangible benefits for our citizens and economies. We look forward to continuing this successful collaboration in the years ahead,” stated ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.&nbsp;This extension of collaborative efforts reaffirms the commitment of both agencies to continue building on their established partnership and to explore new opportunities for cooperation in support of scientific discovery, technological innovation and the sustainable use of space.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-document-details-broad-iran-cooperation-plan-across-finance-nuclear-and-aviation-sectors-report-1789995702968">Russian document details broad Iran cooperation plan across finance, nuclear and aviation sectors: Report</a>&nbsp;When Indian Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla trained at ESA facilities&nbsp;&nbsp;In late-2024, Indian astronaut candidate Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his fellow Axiom-4 mission crewmates had trained at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, in preparation for their 2025 spaceflight mission to the International Space Station. EAC is the main training hub for all European-built Space Station hardware and serves as a centre of excellence for astronaut selection, training, medical support, and surveillance, while also providing essential preparation for astronauts and their families throughout their missions.&nbsp;&nbsp;At EAC, the crew had familiarised themselves with ESA systems, including the Columbus module, Europe’s science laboratory on the Space Station. The Columbus laboratory is ESA’s largest contribution to the International Space Station and the first permanent European research facility in space. This lab, spanning 75 cubic metre, is fully equipped with research tools and autonomous facilities that support diverse scientific experiments in biology, physiology, fluid science, and more.&nbsp;Group Captain Shukla and his Axiom-4 crewmates undertook a commercial space mission from American soil, lasting nearly three weeks across June-July 2025. Shukla was the second Indian to travel to space, and his mission on the American Axiom-4 flight was meant to serve as a precursor and a hands-on spaceflight training ahead of India's own Gaganyaan crewed missions and related in-space experiments.

The renewed agreement reflects the evolving priorities of both sides in the space sector: space weather, human and robotic exploration of space, while also recognising the growing importance of sustainable outer space activities.

Reaffirming Europe's and India's commitment to expanding cooperation in space, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed an exchange of letters extending their long-standing Cooperative Agreement for five more years, until January 2032. The exchange between ISRO Chief Dr V Narayanan and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher took place in Paris on the margins of the International Space Summit earlier this month. The renewed agreement reflects the evolving priorities of both sides in the space sector: space weather, human and robotic exploration of space, while also recognising the growing importance of sustainable outer space activities. Last year, the two sides also expressed their intention to deepen cooperation through a Joint Statement of Intent on human exploration. This comes as India is working on sending its astronauts to space and returning them safely on homegrown rocket and spacecraft technology as part of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. Also Read: Trump says Russia has ‘lost control’ of its diesel industry, calls for end to ‘ridiculous, never-ending’ war "The partnership between ISRO and ESA has delivered tangible benefits for India and Europe and has demonstrated the value of international cooperation in advancing space activities. The renewal of this agreement reflects the shared ambition of ISRO and ESA to pursue innovation and scientific progress for the benefit of our societies," said ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan, who also serves as Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India. The Cooperative Agreement, which entered into force in January 2002, provides the framework for cooperation between ESA and ISRO across a broad range of space activities. Over the years, ESA and ISRO have worked together on a range of programmes and initiatives spanning Earth observation, satellite navigation, space science and mission operations support. "As space activities expand beyond Earth orbit and new opportunities emerge in exploration, sustainability and advanced technologies, international cooperation remains essential. ESA and ISRO have built a trusted partnership spanning more than two decades, and this renewed agreement positions us to pursue even greater ambitions together while delivering tangible benefits for our citizens and economies. We look forward to continuing this successful collaboration in the years ahead,” stated ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. This extension of collaborative efforts reaffirms the commitment of both agencies to continue building on their established partnership and to explore new opportunities for cooperation in support of scientific discovery, technological innovation and the sustainable use of space. Also Read: Russian document details broad Iran cooperation plan across finance, nuclear and aviation sectors: Report When Indian Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla trained at ESA facilities In late-2024, Indian astronaut candidate Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his fellow Axiom-4 mission crewmates had trained at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, in preparation for their 2025 spaceflight mission to the International Space Station. EAC is the main training hub for all European-built Space Station hardware and serves as a centre of excellence for astronaut selection, training, medical support, and surveillance, while also providing essential preparation for astronauts and their families throughout their missions. At EAC, the crew had familiarised themselves with ESA systems, including the Columbus module, Europe’s science laboratory on the Space Station. The Columbus laboratory is ESA’s largest contribution to the International Space Station and the first permanent European research facility in space. This lab, spanning 75 cubic metre, is fully equipped with research tools and autonomous facilities that support diverse scientific experiments in biology, physiology, fluid science, and more. Group Captain Shukla and his Axiom-4 crewmates undertook a commercial space mission from American soil, lasting nearly three weeks across June-July 2025. Shukla was the second Indian to travel to space, and his mission on the American Axiom-4 flight was meant to serve as a precursor and a hands-on spaceflight training ahead of India's own Gaganyaan crewed missions and related in-space experiments.

The renewed agreement reflects the evolving priorities of both sides in the space sector: space weather, human and robotic exploration of space, while also recognising the growing importance of sustainable outer space activities.

ISRO, European Space Agency to focus on space weather, human & robotic exploration

At the 9th Bengaluru Space Expo — billed as Asia's largest — Italy's ambassador to India spoke to WION about how the country carries "the legacy of Galileo and Marconi" into its growing space ties with New Delhi. ISRO and Italy's ASI, partners since a 2005 framework agreement, are now deepening work on Earth observation, space weather, and lunar exploration, alongside gravitational wave research and academic collaboration. The push comes as Italy looks to convert two decades of scientific cooperation into concrete business and industrial partnerships.


India-Italy space ties: Italy's envoy outlines roadmap for deeper space ties with India

Nine ISRO employee associations representing thousands of workers have sought clarity over the government’s push to expand private-sector involvement in India’s space programme. The staff bodies want answers on ISRO’s future role, the transfer of manufacturing and operational work, and what the changes could mean for current and future employees.

Employees seek clarity from ISRO chairman

Following the successful launch of India's GSLV F-17/EOS-05 space mission on Friday(4th September), employees of the Indian space agency ISRO have sought a clarification from the Indian Government over the ongoing privatisation of certain ISRO activities.This author has accessed the five-page letter which employee associations of crucial ISRO centres have jointly written to the ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, who also serves as the Secretary of the Indian Government's Department of Space, which operates under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since the year 2020, the Modi Government has been spearheading the "opening up of space sector to private players", a process that sections within the Government-run ISRO have been "anxious and fearful" about. The latest letter reflects the growing concerns and unease.The letter has been signed by nine representatives of various ISRO employee associations linked to major ISRO centers such as VSSC, SDSC, URSC, LPSC, SAC, NRSC, and IPRC. On the strict condition of anonymity, multiple representatives of ISRO employees' associations confirmed the authenticity of their letter with this author. They added that their associations represented the concerns of around 5,000 employees, which is around one-fourth(27%) of ISRO's 18,100 employee headcount.When this author contacted him for a response regarding the privatisation of ISRO activities and related concerns that employees had raised in the letter, Dr. V. Narayanan, ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, did not offer a comment.<h2>The trigger for the concerns – a statement by Dr. Pawan Goenka</h2>"Eventually, ISRO will not make any launch vehicles and will not manufacture any launch vehicles. That will all be done by the private Sector or Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)," Dr. Pawan Goenka had said during a televised event in August 2026. The employee associations' letter quotes this statement and says that it had caused widespread concern among serving employees, their families, and thousands of young citizens who aspire to a career in the national space programme.Dr. Pawan Goenka has been appointed by the Modi Government to head the government agency IN-SPACE, which is meant to promote and facilitate end-to-end private participation in the ISRO-dominated Indian space sector.Dr. Goenka is an automobile industry veteran who has been heading IN-SPACE since 2021. An IITian with a subsequent Ph.D. from Cornell and a management degree at Harvard, Goenka worked at the General Motors R&amp;D Centre, Detroit, for 14 years and at India's Mahindra &amp; Mahindra(M&amp;M) Ltd. for 28 years. He retired from M&amp;M as MD &amp; CEO in the year 2021, following which he was appointed to lead the Indian Government's IN-SPACE.<h2>‘ISRO's rocket tech being transferred to private and Govt firms, without official communication to employees’</h2>The ISRO employees' association letter mentions the SSLV rocket technology and production technology being sold to Government firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL), and the ongoing bidding process for technology transfer of India's largest rocket, LVM3, and similar efforts for transferring the technology of the workhorse PSLV rocket.The letter also cites reports about routine satellite manufacturing possibly being moved out of ISRO, and that operation of new launch infrastructure, including the Government's Space Launch Complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu being opened to private entities.In light of these developments, the employees' associations highlight that such decisions or proposals by the Government have not been accompanied by any corresponding official communication from the Department of Space to its employees.&nbsp; It adds that there has been no communication from the Department of Space explaining the approved policy, its legal and administrative basis, its phasing, or its consequences for the existing workforce.<h2>‘Why are ISRO employees anxious?’</h2>The letter cites that ISRO was built as a national scientific institution with public funds, public purpose and a public workforce. "Launch-vehicle design, realisation, integration, testing and launch operations are not merely 'manufacturing contracts'. They are the core competence, institutional memory and strategic capability of the Organisation," ISRO staff association explained.The letter expresses concern that ISRO's progressive withdrawal from launch-vehicle and satellite realisation will tamper with experiments after research, shrink in-house work, freeze or reduce sanctioned strength, and close promotion and skill- development avenues in technical, scientific, administrative, stores, purchase, quality, safety and industrial cadres.Further, it says that existing employees who are working under ISRO's own facilities may be rendered surplus, or redeployed, or left without meaningful work while the same tasks are performed by private contractors using publicly developed technology.It also said that strategic autonomy, quality assurance, safety culture and accountability that are inherent to a national space agency may be diluted if core realisation and launch operations pass out of public control."Regular recruitment to Group A, B and C posts - already constrained by vacancies and attrition - will further decline, denying opportunity to meritorious youth who look to ISRO as a career," reads the letter. This comes at a time when Indian Government data reveals that ISRO faces a human resource shortage: Indian Parliament data from February 2026 showed that ISRO has a sanctioned strength of 14,108 staff in the Science and Technology domain, of which only 12,472 are in position, which indicates an 11 per cent resource crunch. The Government had said it is undertaking efforts to fill 1,261 of the 1,636 vacancies.In the Admin domain, ISRO has a sanctioned strength of 4,034 staff. However, only 3,057 are in position, which indicates a 24 per cent resource crunch. The Government had said it is undertaking efforts to fill 188 of the 977 vacant posts.<h2>‘Draw a line between private participation and dismantling ISRO's own realisation capability’</h2>The ISRO staff associations emphasised that they are not hostile towards Indian industry, and they are not opposed to legitimate commercialisation through NSIL (ISRO's commercial arm) within a defined framework. "The concern is the absence of an official Department of Space policy document that draws a clear line between (i) enabling private participation and (ii) dismantling ISRO's own realisation capability," they added.Further, they agreed that private participation in defined commercial activities can coexist with a strong, publicly-owned ISRO. However, they stressed that "a policy that reduces ISRO to a residual R&amp;D boutique while the realisation of the nation's launch vehicles and the operation of its launch infrastructure pass out of public hands, cannot be accepted without debate".Technology developed by ISRO is a national asset. Its transfer must be transparent, accountable, and consistent with strategic, safety and employment considerations. On such transfer of Government-developed technology to private firms, ISRO staff associations highlighted that they have an earned right to be informed, consulted and protected. "Natural justice and good administration require that policy of this magnitude be explained to the workforce by the Department itself."<h2>Clarifications sought from ISRO Chief, Secretary, Dept of Space (Govt of India)</h2>The ISRO staff associations requested Dr. V. Narayanan, the ISRO Chief and Secretary, DoS, to issue an official, written clarification addressing their concerns in a time-bound manner.Further, it wanted the Department of Space to conduct a structured interaction with the recognised Service Associations on the future role of ISRO, staffing, recruitment, among others.The ISRO staff associations emphasised that they were submitting this representation to the Government in a constructive and democratic spirit. "Our loyalty to ISRO and to the national space programme is not in question. Precisely because of that loyalty, we consider it our duty to seek clarity before uncertainty hardens into irreversible policy," concluded the letter, which sought a written response from the government.

Technology developed by ISRO is a national asset. Its transfer must be transparent, accountable, and consistent with strategic, safety and employment considerations. 

Following the successful launch of India's GSLV F-17/EOS-05 space mission on Friday(4th September), employees of the Indian space agency ISRO have sought a clarification from the Indian Government over the ongoing privatisation of certain ISRO activities. This author has accessed the five-page letter which employee associations of crucial ISRO centres have jointly written to the ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, who also serves as the Secretary of the Indian Government's Department of Space, which operates under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since the year 2020, the Modi Government has been spearheading the "opening up of space sector to private players", a process that sections within the Government-run ISRO have been "anxious and fearful" about. The latest letter reflects the growing concerns and unease. The letter has been signed by nine representatives of various ISRO employee associations linked to major ISRO centers such as VSSC, SDSC, URSC, LPSC, SAC, NRSC, and IPRC. On the strict condition of anonymity, multiple representatives of ISRO employees' associations confirmed the authenticity of their letter with this author. They added that their associations represented the concerns of around 5,000 employees, which is around one-fourth(27%) of ISRO's 18,100 employee headcount. When this author contacted him for a response regarding the privatisation of ISRO activities and related concerns that employees had raised in the letter, Dr. V. Narayanan, ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, did not offer a comment. The trigger for the concerns – a statement by Dr. Pawan Goenka "Eventually, ISRO will not make any launch vehicles and will not manufacture any launch vehicles. That will all be done by the private Sector or Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)," Dr. Pawan Goenka had said during a televised event in August 2026. The employee associations' letter quotes this statement and says that it had caused widespread concern among serving employees, their families, and thousands of young citizens who aspire to a career in the national space programme. Dr. Pawan Goenka has been appointed by the Modi Government to head the government agency IN-SPACE, which is meant to promote and facilitate end-to-end private participation in the ISRO-dominated Indian space sector. Dr. Goenka is an automobile industry veteran who has been heading IN-SPACE since 2021. An IITian with a subsequent Ph.D. from Cornell and a management degree at Harvard, Goenka worked at the General Motors R&D Centre, Detroit, for 14 years and at India's Mahindra & Mahindra(M&M) Ltd. for 28 years. He retired from M&M as MD & CEO in the year 2021, following which he was appointed to lead the Indian Government's IN-SPACE. ‘ISRO's rocket tech being transferred to private and Govt firms, without official communication to employees’ The ISRO employees' association letter mentions the SSLV rocket technology and production technology being sold to Government firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL), and the ongoing bidding process for technology transfer of India's largest rocket, LVM3, and similar efforts for transferring the technology of the workhorse PSLV rocket. The letter also cites reports about routine satellite manufacturing possibly being moved out of ISRO, and that operation of new launch infrastructure, including the Government's Space Launch Complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu being opened to private entities. In light of these developments, the employees' associations highlight that such decisions or proposals by the Government have not been accompanied by any corresponding official communication from the Department of Space to its employees. It adds that there has been no communication from the Department of Space explaining the approved policy, its legal and administrative basis, its phasing, or its consequences for the existing workforce. ‘Why are ISRO employees anxious?’ The letter cites that ISRO was built as a national scientific institution with public funds, public purpose and a public workforce. "Launch-vehicle design, realisation, integration, testing and launch operations are not merely 'manufacturing contracts'. They are the core competence, institutional memory and strategic capability of the Organisation," ISRO staff association explained. The letter expresses concern that ISRO's progressive withdrawal from launch-vehicle and satellite realisation will tamper with experiments after research, shrink in-house work, freeze or reduce sanctioned strength, and close promotion and skill- development avenues in technical, scientific, administrative, stores, purchase, quality, safety and industrial cadres. Further, it says that existing employees who are working under ISRO's own facilities may be rendered surplus, or redeployed, or left without meaningful work while the same tasks are performed by private contractors using publicly developed technology. It also said that strategic autonomy, quality assurance, safety culture and accountability that are inherent to a national space agency may be diluted if core realisation and launch operations pass out of public control. "Regular recruitment to Group A, B and C posts - already constrained by vacancies and attrition - will further decline, denying opportunity to meritorious youth who look to ISRO as a career," reads the letter. This comes at a time when Indian Government data reveals that ISRO faces a human resource shortage: Indian Parliament data from February 2026 showed that ISRO has a sanctioned strength of 14,108 staff in the Science and Technology domain, of which only 12,472 are in position, which indicates an 11 per cent resource crunch. The Government had said it is undertaking efforts to fill 1,261 of the 1,636 vacancies. In the Admin domain, ISRO has a sanctioned strength of 4,034 staff. However, only 3,057 are in position, which indicates a 24 per cent resource crunch. The Government had said it is undertaking efforts to fill 188 of the 977 vacant posts. ‘Draw a line between private participation and dismantling ISRO's own realisation capability’ The ISRO staff associations emphasised that they are not hostile towards Indian industry, and they are not opposed to legitimate commercialisation through NSIL (ISRO's commercial arm) within a defined framework. "The concern is the absence of an official Department of Space policy document that draws a clear line between (i) enabling private participation and (ii) dismantling ISRO's own realisation capability," they added. Further, they agreed that private participation in defined commercial activities can coexist with a strong, publicly-owned ISRO. However, they stressed that "a policy that reduces ISRO to a residual R&D boutique while the realisation of the nation's launch vehicles and the operation of its launch infrastructure pass out of public hands, cannot be accepted without debate". Technology developed by ISRO is a national asset. Its transfer must be transparent, accountable, and consistent with strategic, safety and employment considerations. On such transfer of Government-developed technology to private firms, ISRO staff associations highlighted that they have an earned right to be informed, consulted and protected. "Natural justice and good administration require that policy of this magnitude be explained to the workforce by the Department itself." Clarifications sought from ISRO Chief, Secretary, Dept of Space (Govt of India) The ISRO staff associations requested Dr. V. Narayanan, the ISRO Chief and Secretary, DoS, to issue an official, written clarification addressing their concerns in a time-bound manner. Further, it wanted the Department of Space to conduct a structured interaction with the recognised Service Associations on the future role of ISRO, staffing, recruitment, among others. The ISRO staff associations emphasised that they were submitting this representation to the Government in a constructive and democratic spirit. "Our loyalty to ISRO and to the national space programme is not in question. Precisely because of that loyalty, we consider it our duty to seek clarity before uncertainty hardens into irreversible policy," concluded the letter, which sought a written response from the government.

Technology developed by ISRO is a national asset. Its transfer must be transparent, accountable, and consistent with strategic, safety and employment considerations.&nbsp;

Are ISRO activities being privatised? Anxious staff seek Govt response

India has achieved a major new milestone in space. ISRO's GSLV-F17 has successfully launched EOS-05, India's first dedicated Earth-imaging satellite designed to operate from geosynchronous orbit. From nearly 36,000 kilometres above Earth, the satellite will offer persistent observation of India and surrounding regions. With six more launches planned, ISRO is accelerating its space ambitions.  Watch Wion's groundreport from the launchsite in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

ISRO's 'Naughty Boy' rocket delivers a big win for India 

India's new 24x7 eye in the sky: Isro's 'Naughty Boy' rocket delivers a big win

ISRO marks its return to the launch calendar after a seven-month gap, putting India’s space programme back in the spotlight. The mission is being closely watched as ISRO looks to resume a steady pace of launches and advance India’s ambitions in space. 

India enters the high-stakes space surveillance race 

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the EOS-05 satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 2:55 am on Friday. It is an Earth Observation Satellite launched aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket. The successful takeoff ended an eight-month lull for the Indian space agency. Here is everything you need to know about the new Indian satellite in space.&nbsp;The EOS-05 satellite weighs 2,367 kg and will be placed in the Geosynchronous Orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km above Earth. It has multispectral (VNIR) and hyperspectral (VNIR/SWIR) sensors. It can take images of a specific region every 5 minutes, and of the entire Indian landmass every 30 minutes. Its spatial resolution is 42 metres, making it the highest-resolution camera ever placed in geostationary orbit by ISRO.&nbsp;EOS-05 is India’s first-ever imaging satellite in geosynchronous orbit. Being placed in this position gives it an advantage over other Earth observation satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). While the latter only pass over a specific location once every few days, EOS-05 is like a real-time "eye in the sky" that can remain over a specific region.<h2>Purpose and objectives of EOS-05</h2> The primary objective of the EOS-05 satellite is to offer near real-time disaster monitoring. It will track rapidly evolving natural disasters by taking pictures of a specific region every 5 to 30 minutes. This will provide a window for emergency action when storms, cyclones, floods, cloudbursts, and forest fires occur.&nbsp;The satellite will also have defence implications as it can continuously monitor the entire Indian subcontinent. To have a real-time eye in space watching over maritime zones and international borders will allow for specific, timely steps to avert an incursion. EOS-05 will complement existing weather satellites to keep an eye on cloud cover, weather patterns and anomalies on the sea surface. It will also benefit agriculture as it can monitor seasonal crop health, soil moisture, vegetation changes, and land-use dynamics.<h2>Upcoming ISRO missions</h2>ISRO Chief Dr V. Narayanan said that the EOS-05 satellite was the heaviest satellite to be launched on the GSLV rocket, as it carried a 2,367kg satellite on its 19th flight. The Indian space agency is targeting five more launches for the current financial year, including the Navigation satellite NVS-03 and the Gaganyaan-G1 mission.

ISRO launches EOS-05 satellite: The satellite will serve several purposes, including defence and monitoring natural disasters. It is the first-ever imaging satellite from India that will be placed in a Geosynchronous Orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the EOS-05 satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 2:55 am on Friday. It is an Earth Observation Satellite launched aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket. The successful takeoff ended an eight-month lull for the Indian space agency. Here is everything you need to know about the new Indian satellite in space. The EOS-05 satellite weighs 2,367 kg and will be placed in the Geosynchronous Orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km above Earth. It has multispectral (VNIR) and hyperspectral (VNIR/SWIR) sensors. It can take images of a specific region every 5 minutes, and of the entire Indian landmass every 30 minutes. Its spatial resolution is 42 metres, making it the highest-resolution camera ever placed in geostationary orbit by ISRO. EOS-05 is India’s first-ever imaging satellite in geosynchronous orbit. Being placed in this position gives it an advantage over other Earth observation satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). While the latter only pass over a specific location once every few days, EOS-05 is like a real-time "eye in the sky" that can remain over a specific region. Purpose and objectives of EOS-05 The primary objective of the EOS-05 satellite is to offer near real-time disaster monitoring. It will track rapidly evolving natural disasters by taking pictures of a specific region every 5 to 30 minutes. This will provide a window for emergency action when storms, cyclones, floods, cloudbursts, and forest fires occur. The satellite will also have defence implications as it can continuously monitor the entire Indian subcontinent. To have a real-time eye in space watching over maritime zones and international borders will allow for specific, timely steps to avert an incursion. EOS-05 will complement existing weather satellites to keep an eye on cloud cover, weather patterns and anomalies on the sea surface. It will also benefit agriculture as it can monitor seasonal crop health, soil moisture, vegetation changes, and land-use dynamics. Upcoming ISRO missions ISRO Chief Dr V. Narayanan said that the EOS-05 satellite was the heaviest satellite to be launched on the GSLV rocket, as it carried a 2,367kg satellite on its 19th flight. The Indian space agency is targeting five more launches for the current financial year, including the Navigation satellite NVS-03 and the Gaganyaan-G1 mission.

ISRO launches EOS-05 satellite: The satellite will serve several purposes, including defence and monitoring natural disasters. It is the first-ever imaging satellite from India that will be placed in a Geosynchronous Orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km.

ISRO launches EOS-05 satellite: How is it different, purpose and objectives

ISRO marks its return to the launch calendar after a seven-month gap, putting India’s space programme back in the spotlight. The mission is being closely watched as ISRO looks to resume a steady pace of launches and advance India’s ambitions in space. 


ISRO launches EOS-05: Rocket lifted off from second launch pad in Sriharikota

Ending an eight-month lull, Indian space agency ISRO delivered a much-needed comeback with the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 satellite. The 52-meters-tall GSLV rocket that weighed 420-tons lifted off at 2:55am Indian time, from the second launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, carrying the 2,367kg Earth-imaging satellite built by ISRO. In barely 20 minutes, the three-stage rocket placed the satellite in its designated initial orbit. ISRO's launches scheduled for 2026 were halted after repeat mid-flight failures of ISRO's workhorse PSLV rockets: PSLV-C61 in May 2025 and PSLV-C62 in January 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;Announcing the launch outcome, ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan said that the EOS-05 satellite was successfully and precisely injected into the required orbit. He added that the satellite's solar panels have been deployed and that the satellite's health condition is perfectly alright. While ISRO intended to place the satellite in an initial elliptical(egg-shaped) orbit of 170kms perigee (nearest point from Earth) and 28,934kms apogee (farthest point from Earth), the rocket had delivered a better performance and placed the satellite in a 171kms perigee and&nbsp; 31,026kms apogee. He also projected that the EOS-05 satellite would have an operational life of seven to nine years.&nbsp;Tracing the 25-year operational history of the GSLV rocket, Dr. Narayanan pointed out that the EOS-05 was the heaviest satellite to be launched by this vehicle. He recalled and contrasted that GSLV had lifted a satellite weighing 1,356kg during its first launch mission; while it has lifted a 2,367kg satellite in its latest mission, which is its 19th&nbsp;flight. He elaborated that this enhancement of lifting power is a result of ISRO's efforts in constantly modifying and upgrading the the structural elements, propulsion systems of the vehicle. He pointed out that the GSLV rocket had seen almost a 50percent increase in its lifting power over these years. However, he mentioned that further enhancement of this vehicle's lifting power is ruled out.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ganga-nears-danger-mark-in-varanasi-most-ghats-submerged-pm-modi-orders-relief-work-on-war-footing-1788455040726">Ganga nears danger mark in Varanasi, most ghats submerged; PM Modi orders relief work on ‘war footing’</a><h2>Watch ISRO's post here</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">LIFT-OFF! GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 lifts off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharikota. Livestreaming:<a href="https://t.co/uCaGCKcwuC">https://t.co/uCaGCKcwuC</a> For more information:<a href="https://t.co/VneB2jgZoY">https://t.co/VneB2jgZoY</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/GSLVF17?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GSLVF17</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/EOS05?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EOS05</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRO</a>&mdash; ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://x.com/isro/status/2095624179949461607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mission Success! GSLV-F17 has successfully accomplished its mission, placing EOS-05 into the intended orbit. Sharing a few memorable moments from the lift-off. For more information:<a href="https://t.co/VneB2jgZoY">https://t.co/VneB2jgZoY</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/GSLVF17?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GSLVF17</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/EOS05?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EOS05</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRO</a> <a href="https://t.co/kv0zB6V5Vi">pic.twitter.com/kv0zB6V5Vi</a>&mdash; ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://x.com/isro/status/2095649303251607909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>ISRO targets 6 launches by March 2027</h2>Referring to the back-to-back, mid-flight PSLV failures, Dr. Narayanan said that ISRO had understood the reasons behind them and needed to validate their understanding via experiments. &nbsp;Without elaborating much, the ISRO Chief also mentioned that the agency is targeting six launches in the ongoing Financial year, of which the launch of Navigation satellite NVS-03 and Gaganyaan-G1 mission are planned by December 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;NVS-03 is one among five satellites that are part of India's regional navigation satellite fleet, which urgently requires replenishment of satellites to resume basic functionalities. &nbsp;Gaganyaan-G1 is the first in the series of three unmanned missions that India would carry out, before launching its crew to space on an Indian rocket, astronaut-carrying spacecraft. Gaganyaan is India's ambitious Human Spaceflight programme, which aims to send Indian astronauts to space and return them safely.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation. The successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, India’s first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit is a reflection of the excellence, innovation and growing capabilities that define… <a href="https://t.co/fXzwnSmwAF">https://t.co/fXzwnSmwAF</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2095701099747713393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 launches from Sriharikota as ISRO aims to enhance Earth observation, disaster warning, cyclone and agriculture monitoring

Ending an eight-month lull, Indian space agency ISRO delivered a much-needed comeback with the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 satellite. The 52-meters-tall GSLV rocket that weighed 420-tons lifted off at 2:55am Indian time, from the second launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, carrying the 2,367kg Earth-imaging satellite built by ISRO. In barely 20 minutes, the three-stage rocket placed the satellite in its designated initial orbit. ISRO's launches scheduled for 2026 were halted after repeat mid-flight failures of ISRO's workhorse PSLV rockets: PSLV-C61 in May 2025 and PSLV-C62 in January 2026. Announcing the launch outcome, ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan said that the EOS-05 satellite was successfully and precisely injected into the required orbit. He added that the satellite's solar panels have been deployed and that the satellite's health condition is perfectly alright. While ISRO intended to place the satellite in an initial elliptical(egg-shaped) orbit of 170kms perigee (nearest point from Earth) and 28,934kms apogee (farthest point from Earth), the rocket had delivered a better performance and placed the satellite in a 171kms perigee and 31,026kms apogee. He also projected that the EOS-05 satellite would have an operational life of seven to nine years. Tracing the 25-year operational history of the GSLV rocket, Dr. Narayanan pointed out that the EOS-05 was the heaviest satellite to be launched by this vehicle. He recalled and contrasted that GSLV had lifted a satellite weighing 1,356kg during its first launch mission; while it has lifted a 2,367kg satellite in its latest mission, which is its 19th flight. He elaborated that this enhancement of lifting power is a result of ISRO's efforts in constantly modifying and upgrading the the structural elements, propulsion systems of the vehicle. He pointed out that the GSLV rocket had seen almost a 50percent increase in its lifting power over these years. However, he mentioned that further enhancement of this vehicle's lifting power is ruled out. Also Read: Ganga nears danger mark in Varanasi, most ghats submerged; PM Modi orders relief work on ‘war footing’ Watch ISRO's post here

GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 lifts off from Sriharikota, aiming to boost real-time Earth imaging for disaster, cyclone, agriculture and water monitoring

ISRO stages comeback with GSLV-F17/EOS-05 success; targets six more launches

Five years ago, in August 2021, the Indian space agency ISRO launched India's first agile Earth observation satellite, GISAT-1, from Sriharikota on the GSLV-F10 rocket. The satellite was lost after the mid-flight failure of the rocket. WION has learnt that the 52-meters-tall, three-stage GSLV-F17 rocket, carrying a replacement for the GISAT, has been moved to the second launchpad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC), Sriharikota, around 8:00 am, Friday, 28th August. It is a standard practice at ISRO to move its relatively larger rockets (such as PSLV, GSLV, LVM3) to the launchpad a week ahead of the liftoff date. The GSLV-F17 rocket will be carrying a strategic-use Earth-imaging satellite known as GISAT-1A or EOS-05, which is a replacement for the GISAT-1 lost in 2021.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nasa-invites-isro-moon-base-programme-lunar-outpost-1786450433879">NASA invites ISRO to build a base on the Moon</a>This upcoming launch, scheduled for the first week of September, will also mark the end of ISRO's seven-month period of lull. The Government-run ISRO has not launched any of its rockets so far in 2026, after the mid-flight failure of the PSLV-C62 rocket in January this year, which happened to be the second PSLV failure in a row. The PSLV-C61 rocket also failed mid-flight in May 2025. Such back-to-back failures are unprecedented in the 33 years of PSLV flights. While the C-61 carried ISRO's strategic-use Earth-imaging satellite EOS-09, the C-62 carried an Earth-imaging satellite EOS-N1 and more than a dozen customer satellites.&nbsp; Weighing over 2,200kg, the EOS-05/GISAT-1A is an agile Earth observation satellite that is to be placed in Geostationary orbit, about 36,000 km above the Earth. The GSLV rocket will hurl the satellite into an initial elliptical(egg-shaped) orbit, following which the satellite will fire its onboard engines to gradually circularize its orbit and reach its final destination. This satellite is meant to provide near real-time imaging of large-area regions of interest at frequent intervals, for quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events, and any short-term events, to obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, water bodies, as well as for disaster warning, cyclone monitoring, cloud burst/thunderstorm monitoring etc.<h2>Better late than never: A resurrection for GISAT</h2>GISAT-1, India's first agile Earth observation satellite, was launched from Sriharikota on the GSLV-F10 rocket on August 12, 2021. While the first and second stages of the rocket performed normally, the final Cryogenic Stage did not ignite due to a technical anomaly. The mission couldn't be accomplished as intended and the satellite GISAT-1 was lost during the mid-flight failure. GISAT-1A or EOS-05, which ISRO intends to launch next week, is a replacement for the lost GISAT-1.Losses and failures are common in spaceflight. However, the ability to return with a successful mission is the true test of any spacefaring entity. That it has taken five long years for India to replace a satellite lost in 2021, is a sad and pitiable reminder of the pace at which strategic missions are being executed.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-may-need-2-3-years-to-replace-3-strategic-satellites-lost-in-12-months-1768914607847">Also read | India may need 2-3 years to replace 3 strategic satellites lost in 12 months</a>Of the six space launch missions that the Indian space agency ISRO performed from home soil between January 2025 and January 2026, three have failed. These are: GSLV-F15/NVS-02(satellite failure) in Jan 2025, PSLV-C61/EOS-09(mid-flight rocket failure and satellite loss) in May 2025, and PSLV-C62/EOS-N1(mid-flight rocket failure and satellite loss) in January 2026. All three Government-funded satellites lost in these failed missions were critical for India's national security. While it is certain that ISRO will return with successful missions and replace these satellites, this author had estimated that India would need between two to three years to replace all three national security satellites lost in the said period. The five years it took to bring the GISAT back to the launchpad is ample testimony!&nbsp;

Five years after losing GISAT-1 in a GSLV failure, ISRO is preparing to launch its replacement. The GSLV-F17 rocket has now reached Sriharikota's launchpad, setting the stage for a mission with major strategic and disaster-monitoring capabilities.

Five years ago, in August 2021, the Indian space agency ISRO launched India's first agile Earth observation satellite, GISAT-1, from Sriharikota on the GSLV-F10 rocket. The satellite was lost after the mid-flight failure of the rocket. WION has learnt that the 52-meters-tall, three-stage GSLV-F17 rocket, carrying a replacement for the GISAT, has been moved to the second launchpad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC), Sriharikota, around 8:00 am, Friday, 28th August. It is a standard practice at ISRO to move its relatively larger rockets (such as PSLV, GSLV, LVM3) to the launchpad a week ahead of the liftoff date. The GSLV-F17 rocket will be carrying a strategic-use Earth-imaging satellite known as GISAT-1A or EOS-05, which is a replacement for the GISAT-1 lost in 2021. Also read | NASA invites ISRO to build a base on the Moon This upcoming launch, scheduled for the first week of September, will also mark the end of ISRO's seven-month period of lull. The Government-run ISRO has not launched any of its rockets so far in 2026, after the mid-flight failure of the PSLV-C62 rocket in January this year, which happened to be the second PSLV failure in a row. The PSLV-C61 rocket also failed mid-flight in May 2025. Such back-to-back failures are unprecedented in the 33 years of PSLV flights. While the C-61 carried ISRO's strategic-use Earth-imaging satellite EOS-09, the C-62 carried an Earth-imaging satellite EOS-N1 and more than a dozen customer satellites. Weighing over 2,200kg, the EOS-05/GISAT-1A is an agile Earth observation satellite that is to be placed in Geostationary orbit, about 36,000 km above the Earth. The GSLV rocket will hurl the satellite into an initial elliptical(egg-shaped) orbit, following which the satellite will fire its onboard engines to gradually circularize its orbit and reach its final destination. This satellite is meant to provide near real-time imaging of large-area regions of interest at frequent intervals, for quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic events, and any short-term events, to obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, water bodies, as well as for disaster warning, cyclone monitoring, cloud burst/thunderstorm monitoring etc. Better late than never: A resurrection for GISAT GISAT-1, India's first agile Earth observation satellite, was launched from Sriharikota on the GSLV-F10 rocket on August 12, 2021. While the first and second stages of the rocket performed normally, the final Cryogenic Stage did not ignite due to a technical anomaly. The mission couldn't be accomplished as intended and the satellite GISAT-1 was lost during the mid-flight failure. GISAT-1A or EOS-05, which ISRO intends to launch next week, is a replacement for the lost GISAT-1. Losses and failures are common in spaceflight. However, the ability to return with a successful mission is the true test of any spacefaring entity. That it has taken five long years for India to replace a satellite lost in 2021, is a sad and pitiable reminder of the pace at which strategic missions are being executed. Also read | India may need 2-3 years to replace 3 strategic satellites lost in 12 months Of the six space launch missions that the Indian space agency ISRO performed from home soil between January 2025 and January 2026, three have failed. These are: GSLV-F15/NVS-02(satellite failure) in Jan 2025, PSLV-C61/EOS-09(mid-flight rocket failure and satellite loss) in May 2025, and PSLV-C62/EOS-N1(mid-flight rocket failure and satellite loss) in January 2026. All three Government-funded satellites lost in these failed missions were critical for India's national security. While it is certain that ISRO will return with successful missions and replace these satellites, this author had estimated that India would need between two to three years to replace all three national security satellites lost in the said period. The five years it took to bring the GISAT back to the launchpad is ample testimony!

Five years after losing GISAT-1 in a GSLV failure, ISRO is preparing to launch its replacement. The GSLV-F17 rocket has now reached Sriharikota's launchpad, setting the stage for a mission with major strategic and disaster-monitoring capabilities.

5 years after GSLV-F10 failure, ISRO to replace Earth-imaging GISAT

India's space program has long been praised for delivering ambitious missions at comparatively low costs. But as global competition in the space sector intensifies, questions are emerging about the true economics of satellite launches and space exploration. How do Indian launch vehicles compare with those developed in the United States and other major space powers? As commercial space companies expand and governments invest heavily in next-generation capabilities, the debate over cost efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness is gaining momentum. This report examines the numbers behind space launches and whether India's reputation for low-cost space missions still holds true today.


Are Indian rockets too expensive? Why ISRO costs more than SpaceX

U.S. vs India: What is the cost of space launch?

In today’s top headlines, Israel-Syria tensions are back in focus after reports of a meeting between Israeli and Syrian officials aimed at easing tensions following Israel’s recent strike on a Syrian air base.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also fired a fresh salvo at U.S. President Donald Trump, saying Iran is not Venezuela as Tehran faces what it describes as a full-scale military and economic confrontation.

In North America, the U.S.-Canada trade dispute is escalating, with the U.S. transport secretary dismissing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s threat of retaliatory tariffs and warning that Canada could suffer significant economic consequences.

The cricket world has united in an appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Twenty-one international cricket icons, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Alan Border, Clive Lloyd and Alastair Cook, have called for court-monitored medical care for former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

India has announced another major milestone in its space programme. ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan says the first module of India’s planned space station has already been approved, with the country aiming to establish its own space station by 2035.

Meanwhile, FIFA is facing a growing governance challenge. Six Nordic football associations have reportedly joined other European associations in expressing a loss of confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino and demanding sweeping reforms within football’s governing body.

Israel-Syria Tensions | Iran Warns Trump | Imran Khan Appeal, | India Space Station | FIFA Crisis

NASA’s plan for a long-term human presence on the Moon is moving beyond brief astronaut visits, with India now potentially playing a role in the effort. The agency is developing a Moon Base near the lunar South Pole, where Chandrayaan-3 has given India valuable experience. The outpost is envisioned as a place where astronauts can live, conduct research and test technologies for deeper-space missions.<h2>What is the real objective of the Moon Base?</h2>The Moon Base is not simply about putting a permanent building on the lunar surface. It is intended to test whether humans can live and work for extended periods away from Earth, while developing systems for power, transportation, communications, resource extraction and construction.NASA is already working with commercial partners on cargo landers, rovers and other infrastructure, with some lunar deliveries targeted for 2028. The technologies being developed include systems to generate and store power, extract water and oxygen from local resources, and build landing pads and other infrastructure.<h2>Why is the lunar South Pole important?</h2>The lunar South Pole is valuable because some permanently shadowed craters are extremely cold and may preserve water ice and other volatiles. Water could become one of the most important resources for a future settlement – for drinking, life support and potentially producing hydrogen and oxygen for fuel.The region also contains areas that receive relatively prolonged sunlight, creating opportunities for solar power, while nearby shadowed regions could harbour ice. India has already contributed important knowledge about this difficult environment.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/gaganyaan-the-mission-that-could-change-how-the-world-sees-india-s-space-ambitions-1783690204848">Gaganyaan: The mission that could change how the world sees India’s space ambitions</a><h2>How does Chandrayaan-3 strengthen India’s position?</h2>Chandrayaan-3 gave ISRO something far more valuable than a successful landing: first-hand experience of operating in the lunar South Polar region.Vikram landed on August 23, 2023, and Pragyan conducted in-situ studies of the terrain. Its instruments measured temperature, seismic activity, plasma conditions and the elemental composition of lunar soil. ISRO says the rover travelled about 101 metres.More recently, ChaSTE data have helped scientists understand the thermal behaviour of the polar regolith, information relevant to future habitat and resource planning.<h2>What could ISRO’s role be – and what could India gain?</h2>NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme during the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru on August 5-6. The two sides also agreed to advance discussions on scientific data sharing.India’s exact role has not yet been announced. But ISRO’s experience could make it a useful partner in robotic exploration, lunar science, landing technologies, surface mobility and resource mapping. Participation could also give Indian scientists and industry access to a much larger international lunar programme while strengthening India’s position in the emerging lunar economy.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-russia-ukraine-war-is-reshaping-energy-flows-food-prices-defence-spending-and-india-s-strategy-wion-decodes-1783337395169">How Russia-Ukraine war is reshaping energy flows, food prices, defence spending and India’s strategy | WION Decodes</a><h2>Could the Moon become a resource hub and Mars launchpad?</h2>The Moon could potentially become a resource hub and Mars launchpad – but that remains a long-term possibility, not an immediate reality.If water ice can be extracted economically, it could support life-support systems and produce propellant. Lunar resources could eventually reduce the need to transport everything from Earth. The Moon’s lower gravity could also make it attractive for launching spacecraft deeper into the solar system.That is why NASA describes the Moon Base as more than a destination. It is a test bed for technologies and operations needed for Mars. The lunar South Pole could ultimately become humanity’s first sustained foothold beyond Earth – and India now has an opportunity to help shape what that foothold becomes. &nbsp;

NASA’s Moon Base plan is opening a new chapter in lunar exploration, with India’s Chandrayaan-3 experience giving ISRO a potential role in the race to establish a long-term presence on the Moon.

NASA’s plan for a long-term human presence on the Moon is moving beyond brief astronaut visits, with India now potentially playing a role in the effort. The agency is developing a Moon Base near the lunar South Pole, where Chandrayaan-3 has given India valuable experience. The outpost is envisioned as a place where astronauts can live, conduct research and test technologies for deeper-space missions. What is the real objective of the Moon Base? The Moon Base is not simply about putting a permanent building on the lunar surface. It is intended to test whether humans can live and work for extended periods away from Earth, while developing systems for power, transportation, communications, resource extraction and construction. NASA is already working with commercial partners on cargo landers, rovers and other infrastructure, with some lunar deliveries targeted for 2028. The technologies being developed include systems to generate and store power, extract water and oxygen from local resources, and build landing pads and other infrastructure. Why is the lunar South Pole important? The lunar South Pole is valuable because some permanently shadowed craters are extremely cold and may preserve water ice and other volatiles. Water could become one of the most important resources for a future settlement – for drinking, life support and potentially producing hydrogen and oxygen for fuel. The region also contains areas that receive relatively prolonged sunlight, creating opportunities for solar power, while nearby shadowed regions could harbour ice. India has already contributed important knowledge about this difficult environment. Also read | Gaganyaan: The mission that could change how the world sees India’s space ambitions How does Chandrayaan-3 strengthen India’s position? Chandrayaan-3 gave ISRO something far more valuable than a successful landing: first-hand experience of operating in the lunar South Polar region. Vikram landed on August 23, 2023, and Pragyan conducted in-situ studies of the terrain. Its instruments measured temperature, seismic activity, plasma conditions and the elemental composition of lunar soil. ISRO says the rover travelled about 101 metres. More recently, ChaSTE data have helped scientists understand the thermal behaviour of the polar regolith, information relevant to future habitat and resource planning. What could ISRO’s role be – and what could India gain? NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme during the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru on August 5-6. The two sides also agreed to advance discussions on scientific data sharing. India’s exact role has not yet been announced. But ISRO’s experience could make it a useful partner in robotic exploration, lunar science, landing technologies, surface mobility and resource mapping. Participation could also give Indian scientists and industry access to a much larger international lunar programme while strengthening India’s position in the emerging lunar economy. Also read | How Russia-Ukraine war is reshaping energy flows, food prices, defence spending and India’s strategy | WION Decodes Could the Moon become a resource hub and Mars launchpad? The Moon could potentially become a resource hub and Mars launchpad – but that remains a long-term possibility, not an immediate reality. If water ice can be extracted economically, it could support life-support systems and produce propellant. Lunar resources could eventually reduce the need to transport everything from Earth. The Moon’s lower gravity could also make it attractive for launching spacecraft deeper into the solar system. That is why NASA describes the Moon Base as more than a destination. It is a test bed for technologies and operations needed for Mars. The lunar South Pole could ultimately become humanity’s first sustained foothold beyond Earth – and India now has an opportunity to help shape what that foothold becomes.

NASA’s Moon Base plan is opening a new chapter in lunar exploration, with India’s Chandrayaan-3 experience giving ISRO a potential role in the race to establish a long-term presence on the Moon.

NASA’s Moon Base: How Chandrayaan-3 could give India an edge in the lunar race

As India celebrates its 80th Independence Day on August 15, the country is also marking a major milestone in its space exploration journey. India has now entered a new phase, with its private space sector making its mark in orbital missions.&nbsp;Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram 1 Test Flight 1 successfully reached orbit on July 18, 2026, marking the maiden flight of India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket. The rocket was built by a team of young Indian engineers with an average age of 28.&nbsp;On its maiden orbital mission, Vikram 1 successfully reached a Low Earth Orbit of about 450 kilometres and deployed its payloads. With this achievement, Skyroot became the first Indian private company to place a rocket into orbit.&nbsp;But India's space journey began with far more humble beginnings.<h2>From bicycles to India's first rocket</h2>In 1962, under the patronage of Vikram Sarabhai and physicist Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan, the Indian National Committee for Space Research, or INCOSPAR, was established. It marked a pivotal moment in India's space exploration journey.&nbsp;Just a year later, in 1963, India made its debut in space exploration with the launch of its first rocket. The sounding rocket was designed for upper atmospheric studies and was launched from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in the fishing village of Thumba, Kerala. The site is now known as the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.&nbsp;Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who was part of the rocket launch team at the time, later recounted the enormous efforts required to prepare for the historic launch. INCOSPAR had to negotiate the acquisition of land from a local church and resettle villagers before preparations could begin.&nbsp;The team also faced basic logistical challenges. Rocket components were initially transported to the launch pad using bicycles.&nbsp;All these efforts culminated on November 21, 1963, when India successfully launched the rocket in the presence of several distinguished scientists, including Dr Homi Bhabha.<h2>Building India's space programme</h2>India's space programme gradually expanded from its early years under INCOSPAR. The organisation later paved the way for the formation of the Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, in 1969.From INCOSPAR in 1962 to ISRO in 1969, India's space programme continued to live up to its motto of "reaching for the stars".&nbsp;Visionaries such as Vikram Sarabhai, regarded as the father of India's space programme, and Satish Dhawan played a key role in shaping the country's space programme.&nbsp;India's journey produced several major milestones, beginning with Aryabhata in 1975 and eventually transforming the country into a major global space technology player.&nbsp;Soviet partnership and the rise of PSLV&nbsp;Collaboration with the erstwhile Soviet Union also played an important role in India's early space programme. This partnership began with the launch of Aryabhata in 1975, India's first satellite, using a Soviet Kosmos 3M rocket. The Soviet Union also provided training to Indian scientists in satellite communications and mission operations during the 1960s and 1970s.&nbsp;A major leap came in the 1990s with the development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, or PSLV.&nbsp;Despite an initial setback in 1994 and a couple of partial failures later, the PSLV went on to achieve a streak of more than 50 successful missions.<h2>From Aryabhata to the Moon and Mars</h2>In 1996, India approved its first astronomical satellite, two decades after Sarabhai's death. The satellite was eventually launched in 2015, marking another milestone in India's space programme.&nbsp;India also turned its focus towards lunar exploration in the early 2000s. By 2003, the Chandrayaan project had been officially named.&nbsp;Chandrayaan 1, launched in 2008, marked a critical stage in India's space programme and helped move the country's lunar ambitions forward. The Mars Orbiter Mission, launched in 2013, further demonstrated India's growing capabilities in space exploration and brought global recognition to the country's space programme.&nbsp;However, the Chandrayaan missions remain among India's most significant space achievements. In 2009, Chandrayaan 1 detected water ice on the Moon.&nbsp;Then, on August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan 3 created history by becoming the first spacecraft to successfully land near the Moon's unexplored South Pole. The historic achievement is now commemorated as National Space Day.<h2>A new chapter with private space companies</h2>From transporting rocket components on bicycles to successfully landing a spacecraft near the Moon's South Pole, India's space programme has travelled a remarkable distance.&nbsp;The successful orbital mission of Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram 1 now marks another important chapter in that journey. India's space story, which began with a small sounding rocket in Thumba, has expanded into a growing ecosystem involving both the country's national space agency and private space companies.

India's space journey has evolved from transporting rocket parts on bicycles and launching its first sounding rocket at Thumba to major lunar and Mars missions and the successful orbital flight of the private rocket Vikram 1.

As India celebrates its 80th Independence Day on August 15, the country is also marking a major milestone in its space exploration journey. India has now entered a new phase, with its private space sector making its mark in orbital missions. Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram 1 Test Flight 1 successfully reached orbit on July 18, 2026, marking the maiden flight of India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket. The rocket was built by a team of young Indian engineers with an average age of 28. On its maiden orbital mission, Vikram 1 successfully reached a Low Earth Orbit of about 450 kilometres and deployed its payloads. With this achievement, Skyroot became the first Indian private company to place a rocket into orbit. But India's space journey began with far more humble beginnings. From bicycles to India's first rocket In 1962, under the patronage of Vikram Sarabhai and physicist Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan, the Indian National Committee for Space Research, or INCOSPAR, was established. It marked a pivotal moment in India's space exploration journey. Just a year later, in 1963, India made its debut in space exploration with the launch of its first rocket. The sounding rocket was designed for upper atmospheric studies and was launched from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in the fishing village of Thumba, Kerala. The site is now known as the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who was part of the rocket launch team at the time, later recounted the enormous efforts required to prepare for the historic launch. INCOSPAR had to negotiate the acquisition of land from a local church and resettle villagers before preparations could begin. The team also faced basic logistical challenges. Rocket components were initially transported to the launch pad using bicycles. All these efforts culminated on November 21, 1963, when India successfully launched the rocket in the presence of several distinguished scientists, including Dr Homi Bhabha. Building India's space programme India's space programme gradually expanded from its early years under INCOSPAR. The organisation later paved the way for the formation of the Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, in 1969. From INCOSPAR in 1962 to ISRO in 1969, India's space programme continued to live up to its motto of "reaching for the stars". Visionaries such as Vikram Sarabhai, regarded as the father of India's space programme, and Satish Dhawan played a key role in shaping the country's space programme. India's journey produced several major milestones, beginning with Aryabhata in 1975 and eventually transforming the country into a major global space technology player. Soviet partnership and the rise of PSLV Collaboration with the erstwhile Soviet Union also played an important role in India's early space programme. This partnership began with the launch of Aryabhata in 1975, India's first satellite, using a Soviet Kosmos 3M rocket. The Soviet Union also provided training to Indian scientists in satellite communications and mission operations during the 1960s and 1970s. A major leap came in the 1990s with the development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, or PSLV. Despite an initial setback in 1994 and a couple of partial failures later, the PSLV went on to achieve a streak of more than 50 successful missions. From Aryabhata to the Moon and Mars In 1996, India approved its first astronomical satellite, two decades after Sarabhai's death. The satellite was eventually launched in 2015, marking another milestone in India's space programme. India also turned its focus towards lunar exploration in the early 2000s. By 2003, the Chandrayaan project had been officially named. Chandrayaan 1, launched in 2008, marked a critical stage in India's space programme and helped move the country's lunar ambitions forward. The Mars Orbiter Mission, launched in 2013, further demonstrated India's growing capabilities in space exploration and brought global recognition to the country's space programme. However, the Chandrayaan missions remain among India's most significant space achievements. In 2009, Chandrayaan 1 detected water ice on the Moon. Then, on August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan 3 created history by becoming the first spacecraft to successfully land near the Moon's unexplored South Pole. The historic achievement is now commemorated as National Space Day. A new chapter with private space companies From transporting rocket components on bicycles to successfully landing a spacecraft near the Moon's South Pole, India's space programme has travelled a remarkable distance. The successful orbital mission of Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram 1 now marks another important chapter in that journey. India's space story, which began with a small sounding rocket in Thumba, has expanded into a growing ecosystem involving both the country's national space agency and private space companies.

India's space journey has evolved from transporting rocket parts on bicycles and launching its first sounding rocket at Thumba to major lunar and Mars missions and the successful orbital flight of the private rocket Vikram 1.

India @ 80: From carrying rockets on bicycles to first private satellite launch, India's space journey

In a historic expansion of international space cooperation, NASA has formally invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to collaborate on the development of a sustained human presence on the Moon. Building on the momentum of the Artemis Accords and India's successful lunar missions, the proposed partnership aims to pool expertise in lunar infrastructure, life-support systems, and deep-space communication.


NASA invites ISRO to help build a base on moon

American Space Agency NASA has invited its Indian counterpart, ISRO, to join its Moon Base program, which aims to build humanity's first Lunar outpost: a place where astronauts will live, work, and explore near the Moon’s South Pole(about 400,000 km from Earth). While America's 1969 mission Apollo 11 is the first to land astronauts on the Moon(near the equatorial region), India's 2023 mission Chandrayaan-3 is the first robotic craft to soft-land and explore near the Lunar south pole. NASA's invitation to ISRO was issued during the 9th meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) hosted by India at the ISRO Headquarters in Bengaluru this month.&nbsp;As for Lunar ambitions, America is working to return astronauts to the moon by the end of this decade or by the start of the next, while India hopes to land its own astronauts on the Moon by 2024 or later. India is also working on sending its astronauts to space on a homegrown mission by the end of this decade.&nbsp; Meanwhile, China is working towards a manned lunar landing mission by the end of this decade and has long-term Lunar exploration and habitation goals. In partnership with Russia, China plans to build a permanent robotic and human research base called the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) at the Lunar south pole by 2035.The India-US meet was attended by Dr. V.&nbsp;Narayanan,&nbsp;Chairman, ISRO &amp; Secretary, Department of Space and Sergio&nbsp;Gor, US Ambassador to India. In their address, Narayanan and Gor highlighted the significance of further strengthening the bilateral space cooperation. The meeting was co-chaired on the Indian side by M.&nbsp;Sankaran, Director, UR Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO and on the U.S. side by Dr. Wesley Brooks, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and Kathleen&nbsp;Karika, NASA Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations.&nbsp;<h2>What is NASA's Moon Base program?</h2>NASA is embarking on one of the most ambitious endeavours in human history: building humanity’s first outpost on another celestial body. Located near the lunar South Pole, the Moon Base will be built step by step through a series of robotic and human missions that help astronauts learn how to live and operate in one of the most demanding and dangerous environments humans have ever set out to explore. The discoveries made and lessons learned there will help shape the future of exploration, from the Moon to Mars.Through a series of crewed and uncrewed missions, NASA and its partners will build the infrastructure needed to support an enduring human presence on the lunar surface while advancing science, technology, and exploration.NASA plans to establish the Moon Base near the lunar South Pole, a region that offers unique opportunities for exploration, discovery, and long-term human presence. Notably, the Lunar South Pole region is known to hold reserves of water ice, which can serve basic human needs and be converted to cryogenic rocket fuels: liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. This remote frontier may hold resources that can help support future explorers and answer important questions about the history of the Moon, Earth, and the solar system.NASA’s Moon Base strategy is built on commercial participation at an unprecedented scale, combining the strengths of government, private innovation, and global collaboration.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-leads-mass-anti-drug-pledge-for-school-students-1786431072899">Tamil Nadu CM Vijay leads mass anti-drug pledge for school students</a><h2>The timeline of NASA's Lunar Base Program</h2>Until 2029, NASA is looking to gain reliable access to the lunar surface and build a deeper understanding of the harsh environment there. Robotic missions will explore the lunar South Pole, demonstrate new technologies, and gather the knowledge needed to guide future development. By expanding experience landing and operating on the Moon, NASA will identify promising locations for future infrastructure, improve mission capabilities, and reduce risk before astronauts arrive.Between 2029 and 2032, NASA aims to build and expand on what is learned during Phase One. This includes deploying the first infrastructure needed to support long-term operations on the Moon: Early power systems, cargo transportation, logistics, and communications capabilities. These will expand humanity’s footprint on the Moon and enable increasingly complex missions.Beyond 2032, NASA aims to begin assembling a permanent lunar outpost where astronauts can live and work for extended periods. Habitats, power systems, communications, transportation, and other critical capabilities will come together to support an enduring human presence near the Moon’s South Pole. As the Moon Base grows and evolves, it will enable increasingly ambitious scientific research, technology demonstrations, and exploration, while helping prepare humanity for future journeys deeper into the solar system.

NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme near the lunar South Pole. Here is what the project aims to achieve and its timeline beyond 2029.

American Space Agency NASA has invited its Indian counterpart, ISRO, to join its Moon Base program, which aims to build humanity's first Lunar outpost: a place where astronauts will live, work, and explore near the Moon’s South Pole(about 400,000 km from Earth). While America's 1969 mission Apollo 11 is the first to land astronauts on the Moon(near the equatorial region), India's 2023 mission Chandrayaan-3 is the first robotic craft to soft-land and explore near the Lunar south pole. NASA's invitation to ISRO was issued during the 9th meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) hosted by India at the ISRO Headquarters in Bengaluru this month. As for Lunar ambitions, America is working to return astronauts to the moon by the end of this decade or by the start of the next, while India hopes to land its own astronauts on the Moon by 2024 or later. India is also working on sending its astronauts to space on a homegrown mission by the end of this decade. Meanwhile, China is working towards a manned lunar landing mission by the end of this decade and has long-term Lunar exploration and habitation goals. In partnership with Russia, China plans to build a permanent robotic and human research base called the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) at the Lunar south pole by 2035. The India-US meet was attended by Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO & Secretary, Department of Space and Sergio Gor, US Ambassador to India. In their address, Narayanan and Gor highlighted the significance of further strengthening the bilateral space cooperation. The meeting was co-chaired on the Indian side by M. Sankaran, Director, UR Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO and on the U.S. side by Dr. Wesley Brooks, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and Kathleen Karika, NASA Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations. What is NASA's Moon Base program? NASA is embarking on one of the most ambitious endeavours in human history: building humanity’s first outpost on another celestial body. Located near the lunar South Pole, the Moon Base will be built step by step through a series of robotic and human missions that help astronauts learn how to live and operate in one of the most demanding and dangerous environments humans have ever set out to explore. The discoveries made and lessons learned there will help shape the future of exploration, from the Moon to Mars. Through a series of crewed and uncrewed missions, NASA and its partners will build the infrastructure needed to support an enduring human presence on the lunar surface while advancing science, technology, and exploration. NASA plans to establish the Moon Base near the lunar South Pole, a region that offers unique opportunities for exploration, discovery, and long-term human presence. Notably, the Lunar South Pole region is known to hold reserves of water ice, which can serve basic human needs and be converted to cryogenic rocket fuels: liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. This remote frontier may hold resources that can help support future explorers and answer important questions about the history of the Moon, Earth, and the solar system. NASA’s Moon Base strategy is built on commercial participation at an unprecedented scale, combining the strengths of government, private innovation, and global collaboration. Also Read: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay leads mass anti-drug pledge for school students The timeline of NASA's Lunar Base Program Until 2029, NASA is looking to gain reliable access to the lunar surface and build a deeper understanding of the harsh environment there. Robotic missions will explore the lunar South Pole, demonstrate new technologies, and gather the knowledge needed to guide future development. By expanding experience landing and operating on the Moon, NASA will identify promising locations for future infrastructure, improve mission capabilities, and reduce risk before astronauts arrive. Between 2029 and 2032, NASA aims to build and expand on what is learned during Phase One. This includes deploying the first infrastructure needed to support long-term operations on the Moon: Early power systems, cargo transportation, logistics, and communications capabilities. These will expand humanity’s footprint on the Moon and enable increasingly complex missions. Beyond 2032, NASA aims to begin assembling a permanent lunar outpost where astronauts can live and work for extended periods. Habitats, power systems, communications, transportation, and other critical capabilities will come together to support an enduring human presence near the Moon’s South Pole. As the Moon Base grows and evolves, it will enable increasingly ambitious scientific research, technology demonstrations, and exploration, while helping prepare humanity for future journeys deeper into the solar system.

NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme near the lunar South Pole. Here is what the project aims to achieve and its timeline beyond 2029.

NASA invites ISRO to build a base on the Moon

India has scripted history as Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 successfully completed its landmark mission, becoming the country's first privately developed orbital rocket to reach space from Indian soil. Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the mission marks a defining moment for India's rapidly expanding private space ecosystem.

Historic moment! India's first private rocket Vikram-1 takes off into space | Skyroot launch

India's space ambitions are facing a major setback; more than 100 scientists have reportedly resigned from isro in recent months, prompting the Indian government to step in with measures to slow the exodus.

Over 100 scientists quit, centre steps in: ISRO brain drain hits India's space ambitions 

India's first privately designed and built spacefaring rocket 'Vikram-1' is scheduled to launch at 11:30am IST, 18th July, Saturday. Since the start of this month, the Hyderabad-based firm Skyroot Aerospace's seven-storeys-tall 'Vikram 1' rocket has been fully integrated and stacked at the lone Indian spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This will be the first time that a private spacefaring rocket is lifting off from the first launchpad of the Government-run Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). So far, only rockets designed and developed by ISRO have been launched from the first and second launchpads at SDSC, Sriharikota.Concerned authorities have issued the necessary airspace and maritime notices, formally designating the restricted zones along Vikram-1's ascent and impact corridor for launch day, Skyroot said about the launch readiness. “We have done everything that could be done to test Vikram-1 on ground. On 18th July, we are eager to see how Vikram-1 performs in a real flight environment for the first time. This is our first test flight, and we will be getting valuable data from it. This will be foundational to Skyroot's aspirations of establishing launch cadence. We are excited to see this through," said Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-founder &amp; CEO, Skyroot Aerospace.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rs-5-lakh-for-neet-questions-cbi-uncovers-conspiracy-behind-paper-leak-1784186292410">Rs 5 lakh for NEET questions: CBI uncovers conspiracy behind paper leak</a> Vikram-1 will carry technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot's own SCOPE, along with Cosmos Diamonds' artwork "Cosmic Bloom" and a micro-art piece. Dubbed 'Mission Aagaman', meaning “the arrival”, the launch mission of Vikram-1 marks Skyroot’s second mission following the successful suborbital flight of Vikram-S, a rocket that was meant to fly to the edge of space and not deploy satellites. The November 2022 launch of Vikram-S was the first attempt of that sort by an Indian private firm. "What we are aiming to do on 18 July is bigger than a single launch. It represents the hopes and hard work of around 1,000 people, the contributions of over 400 suppliers, and nearly 3,000 days of resolve to build a global offering from India. This test flight will show us how every technology we have developed over the years performs in real-world conditions. With the in-flight data gathered from this mission, we will return to the shop floor to learn, improve, and build further. This test flight is the first step towards creating a reliable, on-demand launch company for the world from India." — Naga Bharath Daka, Co-founder &amp; COO, Skyroot Aerospace<h2>About the Vikram-1 rocket</h2>Vikram-1 is a seven-storey-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure and powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters. Designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Vikram-1's maiden mission will target an orbit at an altitude of 450 km with a 60-degree orbital inclination.Orbital inclination is the tilt of a satellite's path with respect to the Earth's equator. For context, a satellite that circles along the Earth's equator will have a 0-degree inclination; a satellite that circles from pole to pole will have a 90-degree inclination. Therefore, a 60-degree inclination in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) means the satellite circles the planet tilted at a 60-degree angle to the equator. It traces a path that flies over populated regions between 60° North and 60° South latitude. It leaves the extreme polar regions unobserved but covers nearly all inhabited areas.Vikram-1's first launch mission will help Skyroot gather critical data across propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control and overall vehicle performance, supporting the evolution of Skyroot into a commercially operational launch company. Typically, spacefaring rocket makers regard the first three launches of a rocket as developmental or demonstration flights. It is based on the outcomes of the first three missions and their learnings that the firm would declare the rocket operational. Skyroot says that it will commence full commercial launches after one or two successful demonstration launches to orbit.Watch | ISRO genius preparing India's future minds | Vijay govt's big move<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/isro-genius-preparing-india-s-future-minds-vijay-govt-s-big-move-1782928647168/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/isro-genius-preparing-india-s-future-minds-vijay-govt-s-big-move-1782928647168/embed</a>&nbsp;

Vikram-1, will carry technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot's own SCOPE, along with Cosmos Diamonds' artwork "Cosmic Bloom" and a micro-art piece.

India's first privately designed and built spacefaring rocket 'Vikram-1' is scheduled to launch at 11:30am IST, 18th July, Saturday. Since the start of this month, the Hyderabad-based firm Skyroot Aerospace's seven-storeys-tall 'Vikram 1' rocket has been fully integrated and stacked at the lone Indian spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This will be the first time that a private spacefaring rocket is lifting off from the first launchpad of the Government-run Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). So far, only rockets designed and developed by ISRO have been launched from the first and second launchpads at SDSC, Sriharikota. Concerned authorities have issued the necessary airspace and maritime notices, formally designating the restricted zones along Vikram-1's ascent and impact corridor for launch day, Skyroot said about the launch readiness. “We have done everything that could be done to test Vikram-1 on ground. On 18th July, we are eager to see how Vikram-1 performs in a real flight environment for the first time. This is our first test flight, and we will be getting valuable data from it. This will be foundational to Skyroot's aspirations of establishing launch cadence. We are excited to see this through," said Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-founder & CEO, Skyroot Aerospace. Also read | Rs 5 lakh for NEET questions: CBI uncovers conspiracy behind paper leak Vikram-1 will carry technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot's own SCOPE, along with Cosmos Diamonds' artwork "Cosmic Bloom" and a micro-art piece. Dubbed 'Mission Aagaman', meaning “the arrival”, the launch mission of Vikram-1 marks Skyroot’s second mission following the successful suborbital flight of Vikram-S, a rocket that was meant to fly to the edge of space and not deploy satellites. The November 2022 launch of Vikram-S was the first attempt of that sort by an Indian private firm. "What we are aiming to do on 18 July is bigger than a single launch. It represents the hopes and hard work of around 1,000 people, the contributions of over 400 suppliers, and nearly 3,000 days of resolve to build a global offering from India. This test flight will show us how every technology we have developed over the years performs in real-world conditions. With the in-flight data gathered from this mission, we will return to the shop floor to learn, improve, and build further. This test flight is the first step towards creating a reliable, on-demand launch company for the world from India." — Naga Bharath Daka, Co-founder & COO, Skyroot Aerospace About the Vikram-1 rocket Vikram-1 is a seven-storey-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure and powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters. Designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Vikram-1's maiden mission will target an orbit at an altitude of 450 km with a 60-degree orbital inclination. Orbital inclination is the tilt of a satellite's path with respect to the Earth's equator. For context, a satellite that circles along the Earth's equator will have a 0-degree inclination; a satellite that circles from pole to pole will have a 90-degree inclination. Therefore, a 60-degree inclination in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) means the satellite circles the planet tilted at a 60-degree angle to the equator. It traces a path that flies over populated regions between 60° North and 60° South latitude. It leaves the extreme polar regions unobserved but covers nearly all inhabited areas. Vikram-1's first launch mission will help Skyroot gather critical data across propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control and overall vehicle performance, supporting the evolution of Skyroot into a commercially operational launch company. Typically, spacefaring rocket makers regard the first three launches of a rocket as developmental or demonstration flights. It is based on the outcomes of the first three missions and their learnings that the firm would declare the rocket operational. Skyroot says that it will commence full commercial launches after one or two successful demonstration launches to orbit. Watch | ISRO genius preparing India's future minds | Vijay govt's big move https://www.wionews.com/videos/isro-genius-preparing-india-s-future-minds-vijay-govt-s-big-move-1782928647168/embed

Vikram-1, will carry technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot's own SCOPE, along with Cosmos Diamonds' artwork "Cosmic Bloom" and a micro-art piece.

Vikram-1: India's first privately designed & built spacefaring rocket to liftoff on July 18

As India's national space agency, ISRO is witnessing a high number of resignations and voluntary retirement requests from its scientific and technical talent. The government has imposed an additional layer of scrutiny to prevent the easy exit of its workforce. An internal memo issued by the Indian Government's Department of Space on 14th&nbsp;July(Tuesday) mentions that&nbsp;&nbsp;voluntary retirement and resignation requests from Scientific &amp; Technical personnel associated with the Gaganyaan and other important Mission or Projects may not be accepted as a matter of routine. This move would potentially make it harder for those seeking an exit from ISRO.&nbsp;"Of late, it is noticed that there has been a spate of requests for voluntary retirement and resignation from Group 'A' Scientific/Technical personnel of ISRO, including those associated with the prestigious Gaganyaan and other important missions/projects," the memo reveals. It also mentions that the exit of scientific and technical talent is severely impacting the implementation of projects of national importance.The Indian Government has set an ambitious roadmap for the Government-run ISRO: the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme to send Indian astronauts to space and return them safely; a series of Chandrayaan robotic lunar exploration missions; design, development, and launch of an Indian Space Station by the year 2035; crewed moon landing by the year 2040.&nbsp;The Department of Space, under which ISRO operates, has directed ISRO's Centre Directors/Heads of Units not to accept any requests for voluntary retirement or resignation from Scientific and Technical personnel of Group 'A' associated with the Gaganyaan or other important Mission / Project till its realisation. "Any such requests received from Scientific/Technical personnel, even of and below the rank of Scientist/EngineerSG, may be sent to the Department with clear recommendations of the Directors of Centres/Heads of Units for final decision," reads the internal memo. Typically, ISRO employees classified internally as Scientist/EngineerSG are mid or senior-level scientists with around two decades of experience or more. They head a technical team or manage major systems related to space missions and mentor junior scientists.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-govt-offices-to-display-contact-info-to-report-corruption-1784106652904">Tamil Nadu govt offices to display contact info to report corruption</a><h2>Recent exits from ISRO and the possible reasons behind them</h2>This author has learned that there have been many recent resignations or voluntary retirement requests from senior officials at ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. In late 2025, a top ISRO official associated with the LVM3 rocket programme had tendered voluntary retirement and quit. Officials say that some of these exits are linked to "internal issues" and "work-related matters" which are widely known among the ISRO fraternity. There have also been junior-level and mid-level exits of those working at the ISRO spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.&nbsp;Speaking to this author on the condition of anonymity, a former ISRO official pointed out that ISRO scientists find rewarding opportunities in the emerging private space ecosystem in India. In fact, it is the Indian Government which runs ISRO, which is also actively promoting the private firms and startups to do more in the sector. Therefore, talent flowing towards that side is on expected lines.However, another official cautioned that ISRO and the larger Department of Space must look into the reasons behind the exits and undertake remedial measures, rather than trying to curb them by issuing orders.&nbsp;ISRO Chief Dr V Narayanan did not respond to this author's queries about the internal memo and the possible reasons behind the exodus of ISRO's workforce.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-custodial-death-3-prison-staff-arrested-after-probe-finds-remand-prisoner-was-assaulted-1784083760386">Tamil Nadu custodial death: 3 prison staff arrested after probe finds remand prisoner was assaulted</a><h2>ISRO's Human Resource shortage&nbsp;</h2>While the recent internal memo has brought the talent exodus to light, it must be recalled that ISRO has been understaffed for quite a long period. Moreover, the recruitment has not been commensurate with the exits. Indian Parliament data from February 2026 shows that ISRO has a sanctioned strength of 14,108 staff in the Science and Technology domain, of which only 12,472 are in position. The Government says it is undertaking efforts to fill 1,636 vacant posts (about 11.5% shortage from sanctioned strength).&nbsp;In the Admin domain, ISRO has a sanctioned strength of 4,034 staff. However, only 3,057 are in position. The Government says it is undertaking efforts to fill the 977 vacant posts (about 24% shortage from the sanctioned strength).&nbsp;<h2>Impact of recent ISRO mission failures and halted launch activity&nbsp;</h2>Between May 2025 and January 2026, ISRO suffered failures of two PSLV missions. Both PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 encountered mid-flight issues in the third stage of the rocket, which led to the loss of the rocket and the satellite. Following the January 2026 failure, there has been a complete halt of launch activity by ISRO. To date, the agency has attempted only one mission in 2026, which is the failed PSLV-C62. Thereafter, there has been prolonged uncertainty about ISRO's next launch mission and how the leadership would steer the organisation back to its routine pace of activity.With the Government entity IN-SPACE offering to sell ISRO's rocket technology to private firms, questions remain about what the Indian Government envisions for ISRO. Though ISRO has mentioned that it would accomplish 13 rocket launches between April 2026 and March 2027, the fact that the agency has not even accomplished a single launch in this period is a matter of serious concern for the agency's rank and file.&nbsp; &nbsp;

An internal government memo directs ISRO to closely scrutinise scientist resignations amid a talent exodus, staff shortages and concerns over Gaganyaan and other key missions.

As India's national space agency, ISRO is witnessing a high number of resignations and voluntary retirement requests from its scientific and technical talent. The government has imposed an additional layer of scrutiny to prevent the easy exit of its workforce. An internal memo issued by the Indian Government's Department of Space on 14th July(Tuesday) mentions that voluntary retirement and resignation requests from Scientific & Technical personnel associated with the Gaganyaan and other important Mission or Projects may not be accepted as a matter of routine. This move would potentially make it harder for those seeking an exit from ISRO. "Of late, it is noticed that there has been a spate of requests for voluntary retirement and resignation from Group 'A' Scientific/Technical personnel of ISRO, including those associated with the prestigious Gaganyaan and other important missions/projects," the memo reveals. It also mentions that the exit of scientific and technical talent is severely impacting the implementation of projects of national importance. The Indian Government has set an ambitious roadmap for the Government-run ISRO: the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme to send Indian astronauts to space and return them safely; a series of Chandrayaan robotic lunar exploration missions; design, development, and launch of an Indian Space Station by the year 2035; crewed moon landing by the year 2040. The Department of Space, under which ISRO operates, has directed ISRO's Centre Directors/Heads of Units not to accept any requests for voluntary retirement or resignation from Scientific and Technical personnel of Group 'A' associated with the Gaganyaan or other important Mission / Project till its realisation. "Any such requests received from Scientific/Technical personnel, even of and below the rank of Scientist/EngineerSG, may be sent to the Department with clear recommendations of the Directors of Centres/Heads of Units for final decision," reads the internal memo. Typically, ISRO employees classified internally as Scientist/EngineerSG are mid or senior-level scientists with around two decades of experience or more. They head a technical team or manage major systems related to space missions and mentor junior scientists. Also Read: Tamil Nadu govt offices to display contact info to report corruption Recent exits from ISRO and the possible reasons behind them This author has learned that there have been many recent resignations or voluntary retirement requests from senior officials at ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. In late 2025, a top ISRO official associated with the LVM3 rocket programme had tendered voluntary retirement and quit. Officials say that some of these exits are linked to "internal issues" and "work-related matters" which are widely known among the ISRO fraternity. There have also been junior-level and mid-level exits of those working at the ISRO spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Speaking to this author on the condition of anonymity, a former ISRO official pointed out that ISRO scientists find rewarding opportunities in the emerging private space ecosystem in India. In fact, it is the Indian Government which runs ISRO, which is also actively promoting the private firms and startups to do more in the sector. Therefore, talent flowing towards that side is on expected lines. However, another official cautioned that ISRO and the larger Department of Space must look into the reasons behind the exits and undertake remedial measures, rather than trying to curb them by issuing orders. ISRO Chief Dr V Narayanan did not respond to this author's queries about the internal memo and the possible reasons behind the exodus of ISRO's workforce. Also Read: Tamil Nadu custodial death: 3 prison staff arrested after probe finds remand prisoner was assaulted ISRO's Human Resource shortage While the recent internal memo has brought the talent exodus to light, it must be recalled that ISRO has been understaffed for quite a long period. Moreover, the recruitment has not been commensurate with the exits. Indian Parliament data from February 2026 shows that ISRO has a sanctioned strength of 14,108 staff in the Science and Technology domain, of which only 12,472 are in position. The Government says it is undertaking efforts to fill 1,636 vacant posts (about 11.5% shortage from sanctioned strength). In the Admin domain, ISRO has a sanctioned strength of 4,034 staff. However, only 3,057 are in position. The Government says it is undertaking efforts to fill the 977 vacant posts (about 24% shortage from the sanctioned strength). Impact of recent ISRO mission failures and halted launch activity Between May 2025 and January 2026, ISRO suffered failures of two PSLV missions. Both PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 encountered mid-flight issues in the third stage of the rocket, which led to the loss of the rocket and the satellite. Following the January 2026 failure, there has been a complete halt of launch activity by ISRO. To date, the agency has attempted only one mission in 2026, which is the failed PSLV-C62. Thereafter, there has been prolonged uncertainty about ISRO's next launch mission and how the leadership would steer the organisation back to its routine pace of activity. With the Government entity IN-SPACE offering to sell ISRO's rocket technology to private firms, questions remain about what the Indian Government envisions for ISRO. Though ISRO has mentioned that it would accomplish 13 rocket launches between April 2026 and March 2027, the fact that the agency has not even accomplished a single launch in this period is a matter of serious concern for the agency's rank and file.

An internal government memo directs ISRO to closely scrutinise scientist resignations amid a talent exodus, staff shortages and concerns over Gaganyaan and other key missions.

Amid spate of resignations at ISRO, Govt places curbs on quitters

For several years, India’s space programme has been known for doing the improbable on a modest budget. The Mars mission that cost less than many Hollywood productions, the moon landing that etched India’s name in history books and the satellites launched for countries – the world has seen India’s reliable and affordable technology. However, Gaganyaan comes with different challenges.India is preparing to launch its first human spaceflight that could place India among a select group of nations that have independently sent humans into space. So far, only the United States, Russia and China have achieved that milestone.While a rocket carrying a satellite only needs to protect a machine, a spacecraft carrying astronauts has to ensure human lives remain safe. Having a significance far beyond the launch pad, Gaganyaan is a test of whether India can move from mastering robotic missions to building the much more demanding ecosystem required to keep humans alive beyond Earth.The mission, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2018 with an initial budget of ₹9,023 crore, aims to send Indian astronauts into a low Earth orbit of around 400 kilometres and bring them back safely. The spacecraft will be launched using India’s heaviest operational rocket, the human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), after extensive testing and validation.Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-will-e20-fuel-affect-your-car-here-s-what-science-says-1783249256370"> Will E20 fuel affect your car? Here's what science says</a><h2>From satellites to astronauts: India’s biggest space test yet</h2>India has spent decades building expertise in launch vehicles and satellite technology. But human spaceflight belongs to a different league. This requires a spacecraft that can handle emergencies, systems that can sustain astronauts in orbit and technology that can safely bring them back through Earth’s atmosphere.The achievement would not just add another milestone to India’s space record; it would signal that the country has developed capabilities that few nations possess.Human spaceflight requires an ecosystem. It needs companies that can manufacture precision components, develop electronics, build specialised materials and create technologies capable of operating in extreme conditions.The mission could also encourage greater investment in India’s space start-up ecosystem, which has seen rapid growth in recent years.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-global-supply-chains-shift-can-india-become-the-next-manufacturing-hub-1783159714059">As global supply chains shift, can India become the next manufacturing hub?</a><h2>A new race beyond Earth</h2>Gaganyaan comes at a time when the global space industry is moving beyond traditional satellite launches. The United States is preparing for future Moon missions under NASA’s Artemis programme, China is operating its Tiangong space station, and private companies are developing commercial orbital platforms. The focus is shifting towards sustained human activity in space.For India, developing human spaceflight capability is an important step towards its own long-term plans, including the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station and future exploration missions. The ability to send humans into orbit is not just a technological achievement; it is also a measure of a country’s scientific and industrial strength.<h2>More than a one-time mission</h2>The success of Gaganyaan will ultimately be judged by more than the launch day photographs or the astronauts’ return to Earth. The larger question is what India builds around it. A successful mission could create demand for new technologies, strengthen private participation and give Indian companies experience in one of the most advanced areas of aerospace.India has already proved it can reach space efficiently. With Gaganyaan, it is attempting to prove it can operate there with humans on board.Watch | ISRO genius preparing India's future minds | Vijay govt's big move<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/isro-genius-preparing-india-s-future-minds-vijay-govt-s-big-move-1782928647168/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/isro-genius-preparing-india-s-future-minds-vijay-govt-s-big-move-1782928647168/embed</a>&nbsp;

Gaganyaan could reshape India’s role in the global space industry by proving human spaceflight capability, boosting private space companies, driving innovation and opening new opportunities in the commercial space economy.

For several years, India’s space programme has been known for doing the improbable on a modest budget. The Mars mission that cost less than many Hollywood productions, the moon landing that etched India’s name in history books and the satellites launched for countries – the world has seen India’s reliable and affordable technology. However, Gaganyaan comes with different challenges. India is preparing to launch its first human spaceflight that could place India among a select group of nations that have independently sent humans into space. So far, only the United States, Russia and China have achieved that milestone. While a rocket carrying a satellite only needs to protect a machine, a spacecraft carrying astronauts has to ensure human lives remain safe. Having a significance far beyond the launch pad, Gaganyaan is a test of whether India can move from mastering robotic missions to building the much more demanding ecosystem required to keep humans alive beyond Earth. The mission, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2018 with an initial budget of ₹9,023 crore, aims to send Indian astronauts into a low Earth orbit of around 400 kilometres and bring them back safely. The spacecraft will be launched using India’s heaviest operational rocket, the human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), after extensive testing and validation. Also read | Will E20 fuel affect your car? Here's what science says From satellites to astronauts: India’s biggest space test yet India has spent decades building expertise in launch vehicles and satellite technology. But human spaceflight belongs to a different league. This requires a spacecraft that can handle emergencies, systems that can sustain astronauts in orbit and technology that can safely bring them back through Earth’s atmosphere. The achievement would not just add another milestone to India’s space record; it would signal that the country has developed capabilities that few nations possess. Human spaceflight requires an ecosystem. It needs companies that can manufacture precision components, develop electronics, build specialised materials and create technologies capable of operating in extreme conditions. The mission could also encourage greater investment in India’s space start-up ecosystem, which has seen rapid growth in recent years. Also read | As global supply chains shift, can India become the next manufacturing hub? A new race beyond Earth Gaganyaan comes at a time when the global space industry is moving beyond traditional satellite launches. The United States is preparing for future Moon missions under NASA’s Artemis programme, China is operating its Tiangong space station, and private companies are developing commercial orbital platforms. The focus is shifting towards sustained human activity in space. For India, developing human spaceflight capability is an important step towards its own long-term plans, including the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station and future exploration missions. The ability to send humans into orbit is not just a technological achievement; it is also a measure of a country’s scientific and industrial strength. More than a one-time mission The success of Gaganyaan will ultimately be judged by more than the launch day photographs or the astronauts’ return to Earth. The larger question is what India builds around it. A successful mission could create demand for new technologies, strengthen private participation and give Indian companies experience in one of the most advanced areas of aerospace. India has already proved it can reach space efficiently. With Gaganyaan, it is attempting to prove it can operate there with humans on board. Watch | ISRO genius preparing India's future minds | Vijay govt's big move https://www.wionews.com/videos/isro-genius-preparing-india-s-future-minds-vijay-govt-s-big-move-1782928647168/embed

Gaganyaan could reshape India’s role in the global space industry by proving human spaceflight capability, boosting private space companies, driving innovation and opening new opportunities in the commercial space economy.

Gaganyaan: The mission that could change how the world sees India’s space ambitions

Former ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai, the Moon Man behind Chandrayaan missions, now leads Tamil Nadu’s syllabus redesign.  He will be the new Chairman of the Curriculum Design Committee.
The Vijay government's order stated that the tenure of the new committee would be for three years.

ISRO genius preparing India's future minds | Vijay govt's big move

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission on Thursday (May 21) received one of the world’s most prestigious space honours. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has awarded the Chandrayaan-3 mission the 2026 Goddard Astronautics Award in Washington DC. The recognition comes nearly three years after Chandrayaan-3 made global headlines by becoming the first spacecraft ever to successfully soft land near the Moon’s south pole, a region scientists consider one of the most important and least explored areas of the lunar surface.The award was presented during the AIAA ASCEND 2026 Conference on May 21. India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, accepted the honour on behalf of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/3-day-chakka-jam-hits-delhi-ncr-autos-cabs-go-on-strike-over-petrol-diesel-price-hike-4-lakh-autos-and-cabs-off-roads-1779334093293">Delhi-NCR 'chakka jam': 4 lakh autos, cabs to stay off roads as transport strike begins. All we know</a><h2>Why is this award significant?</h2>The Goddard Astronautics Award is considered AIAA’s highest honour in astronautics. It recognises outstanding achievements in space exploration and innovation and is named after Robert H. Goddard, the American rocket pioneer often called the father of modern rocketry.Past recipients have included some of the biggest names and missions in global space exploration, making the recognition a major moment for India’s growing space ambitions.<h2>Why Chandrayaan-3 stood out</h2>Chandrayaan-3’s landing on August 23, 2023, was seen as a landmark achievement not just for India but for global lunar exploration. The mission succeeded where several others had struggled, navigating the difficult terrain and extreme conditions near the Moon’s south pole.Scientists believe the region may contain water ice and other resources that could eventually support future human missions and long-term lunar operations. ISRO later confirmed the presence of several important chemical elements in the lunar soil through onboard instruments, findings that added to the mission’s scientific value. The success also strengthened India’s reputation as a major low-cost but high-impact space power.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-m-for-melody-not-mehengai-congress-mocks-modi-obver-meloni-video-claims-viral-reel-insult-to-indians-suffering-1779332013625">‘M for Melody, not Mehengai’: Congress mocks Modi over Meloni video, claims viral reel ‘insult to Indians suffering’</a><h2>India pushes bigger space ambitions</h2>While accepting the award, Ambassador Vinay Kwatra highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Space Vision 2047, which lays out India’s plans for deeper space exploration, human spaceflight missions and expansion of the country’s commercial space industry.He also stressed the growing space partnership between India and the United States, calling for stronger collaboration between governments, private companies and scientific institutions.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has received one of the world’s top honours in space exploration, nearly three years after its historic landing near the Moon’s south pole put ISRO firmly at the centre of global lunar exploration. Scroll down.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission on Thursday (May 21) received one of the world’s most prestigious space honours. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has awarded the Chandrayaan-3 mission the 2026 Goddard Astronautics Award in Washington DC. The recognition comes nearly three years after Chandrayaan-3 made global headlines by becoming the first spacecraft ever to successfully soft land near the Moon’s south pole, a region scientists consider one of the most important and least explored areas of the lunar surface. The award was presented during the AIAA ASCEND 2026 Conference on May 21. India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, accepted the honour on behalf of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Also read | Delhi-NCR 'chakka jam': 4 lakh autos, cabs to stay off roads as transport strike begins. All we know Why is this award significant? The Goddard Astronautics Award is considered AIAA’s highest honour in astronautics. It recognises outstanding achievements in space exploration and innovation and is named after Robert H. Goddard, the American rocket pioneer often called the father of modern rocketry. Past recipients have included some of the biggest names and missions in global space exploration, making the recognition a major moment for India’s growing space ambitions. Why Chandrayaan-3 stood out Chandrayaan-3’s landing on August 23, 2023, was seen as a landmark achievement not just for India but for global lunar exploration. The mission succeeded where several others had struggled, navigating the difficult terrain and extreme conditions near the Moon’s south pole. Scientists believe the region may contain water ice and other resources that could eventually support future human missions and long-term lunar operations. ISRO later confirmed the presence of several important chemical elements in the lunar soil through onboard instruments, findings that added to the mission’s scientific value. The success also strengthened India’s reputation as a major low-cost but high-impact space power. Also read | ‘M for Melody, not Mehengai’: Congress mocks Modi over Meloni video, claims viral reel ‘insult to Indians suffering’ India pushes bigger space ambitions While accepting the award, Ambassador Vinay Kwatra highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Space Vision 2047, which lays out India’s plans for deeper space exploration, human spaceflight missions and expansion of the country’s commercial space industry. He also stressed the growing space partnership between India and the United States, calling for stronger collaboration between governments, private companies and scientific institutions.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has received one of the world’s top honours in space exploration, nearly three years after its historic landing near the Moon’s south pole put ISRO firmly at the centre of global lunar exploration. Scroll down.

Chandrayaan-3 gets top US space honour years after historic Moon landing

A saree worn by Nandini Harinath during India’s historic Mars Orbiter Mission is now on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. The exhibit celebrates India’s Mangalyaan mission and the women scientists who helped the country reach Mars on its very first attempt. Here’s the story behind the saree, the mission, and India’s growing global space legacy.


How A Simple Saree Became Part Of Space History

Who Is Nandini Harinath, The Woman Behind India’s Mars Mission, Honoured in Washington

When the Indian Air Force released exclusive footage marking the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, the 88-second video revealed more than precision strikes and coordinated military action. It also highlighted the increasingly central role of space-based surveillance and satellite intelligence in India’s modern warfare doctrine. While fighter aircraft, drones and air defence systems dominated the battlefield narrative, the silent architecture supporting the operation came from space.&nbsp;Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and involved calibrated strikes on terrorist infrastructure linked to Pakistan. Conducted without crossing the Line of Control or the international boundary, the operation depended heavily on real-time intelligence, navigation, communication and reconnaissance, capabilities enabled by the Indian Space Research Organisation.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-brahmos-akashteer-pinaka-top-7-indigenous-weapons-that-crushed-pakistani-threats-during-operation-sindoor-1778140196046">'BrahMos, Akashteer, Pinaka &amp;..': Top 5 indigenous weapons that crushed Pakistani threats during Operation Sindoor</a><h2>ISRO’s Expanding Strategic Role</h2>Speaking at an event on May 2025, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan said at least 10 satellites were working ‘round-the-clock for strategic purposes to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the country’. He stressed that satellite and drone technology had become indispensable for national security operations.&nbsp;“Our satellites must continuously monitor the country’s 7,000-km coastline and the entire northern region,” Narayanan said, adding that without such technology “the country can’t achieve that”.&nbsp;India’s satellite network played a key role in surveillance, terrain mapping, secure military communication and tracking potential aerial threats during the operation. High-resolution imaging satellites helped monitor enemy movement and identify targets, while communication satellites ensured uninterrupted coordination between different branches of the armed forces.

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-not-just-a-slogan-former-dgmo-lt-gen-ghai-hails-operation-sindoor-as-a-victory-for-india-s-atmanirbhar-push-1778141929277">'Not just a slogan': Former DGMO Lt Gen Ghai hails Operation Sindoor as a victory for India's Atmanirbhar push</a><h2>Multi-Layered Defence and Real-Time Monitoring</h2>One of the defining features of Operation Sindoor was India’s ability to neutralise retaliatory threats. During the night of May 9-10, Pakistan Air Force attempted targeting Indian airfields and logistical infrastructure were thwarted by a multi-tiered defence network integrated with surveillance and tracking systems. Space-enabled monitoring significantly improved India’s response time. Satellite inputs, combined with radar and drone intelligence, strengthened air defence coordination and protected both civilian and military installations from major damage.<h2>A Shift Towards Technology-Led Warfare</h2>Operation Sindoor demonstrated how India’s military preparedness is increasingly linked to indigenous technological capability. Over the last decade, sustained investment in satellite systems, missile defence and drone warfare has transformed India’s operational capacity.&nbsp;The operation was a tri-services response that embodied precision, professionalism, and purpose. While it was executed on the ground and in the air, ISRO’s contribution highlighted a larger strategic reality: in modern warfare, dominance is no longer determined only by troops or firepower, but also by who controls the skies above the battlefield.

Conducted without crossing the Line of Control or the international boundary, the operation depended heavily on real-time intelligence, navigation, communication and reconnaissance, capabilities enabled by the Indian Space Research Organisation.

When the Indian Air Force released exclusive footage marking the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, the 88-second video revealed more than precision strikes and coordinated military action. It also highlighted the increasingly central role of space-based surveillance and satellite intelligence in India’s modern warfare doctrine. While fighter aircraft, drones and air defence systems dominated the battlefield narrative, the silent architecture supporting the operation came from space. Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and involved calibrated strikes on terrorist infrastructure linked to Pakistan. Conducted without crossing the Line of Control or the international boundary, the operation depended heavily on real-time intelligence, navigation, communication and reconnaissance, capabilities enabled by the Indian Space Research Organisation. ALSO READ: 'BrahMos, Akashteer, Pinaka &..': Top 5 indigenous weapons that crushed Pakistani threats during Operation Sindoor ISRO’s Expanding Strategic Role Speaking at an event on May 2025, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan said at least 10 satellites were working ‘round-the-clock for strategic purposes to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the country’. He stressed that satellite and drone technology had become indispensable for national security operations. “Our satellites must continuously monitor the country’s 7,000-km coastline and the entire northern region,” Narayanan said, adding that without such technology “the country can’t achieve that”. India’s satellite network played a key role in surveillance, terrain mapping, secure military communication and tracking potential aerial threats during the operation. High-resolution imaging satellites helped monitor enemy movement and identify targets, while communication satellites ensured uninterrupted coordination between different branches of the armed forces.

Conducted without crossing the Line of Control or the international boundary, the operation depended heavily on real-time intelligence, navigation, communication and reconnaissance, capabilities enabled by the Indian Space Research Organisation.

How ISRO became the silent force behind Operation Sindoor against Pakistan

Drishti, a unique Earth observation satellite developed by Bengaluru-based GalaxEye was launched into the space aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from California on Sunday. The Indian space start-up says Drishti is the “world’s first OptoSAR satellite” and its launch is a milestone in the advancement of Earth observation technologies.Drishti is the Bengaluru-based space startup GalaxEye’s first commercial satellite.&nbsp;“Weighing 190 kg, Mission Drishti is India’s largest privately developed Earth observation satellite. It is the first satellite globally to integrate Electro-Optical (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors into a single operational platform, enabling all-weather, day-and-night imaging capabilities,” it said.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>‘Drishti can see through clouds, darkness and bad weather’</h2>&nbsp;Drishti is unique since it can “see” through clouds, darkness and bad weather while also capturing conventional optical imagery, as it carries a “SyncFused OptoSAR” payload, combining electro-optical imaging and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on a single platform.&nbsp;Optical satellites provide conventional high-resolution images, but their imagery is affected by cloud cover and darkness, while radar satellites can operate day and night and penetrate clouds, smoke, and rain, but their imagery is harder to interpret.GalaxEye has synchronised and combined both streams of data, and so Drishti can generate more consistent and usable imagery.&nbsp;It will support various applications ranging from border surveillance and defence monitoring to disaster response, agriculture, infrastructure planning, and insurance assessment.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Another key feature onboard is artificial intelligence processing powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Orin computing platform. Instead of transmitting vast quantities of raw imagery back to Earth for analysis, parts of the processing will happen directly in orbit. The idea is to reduce the time taken to convert satellite imagery into actionable information,” said GalaxEye co-founder and CEO Suyash Singh.&nbsp;<h2>Satellite can deliver imagery at a resolution of 1.5 metres</h2>&nbsp;The satellite can deliver imagery at a resolution of 1.5 metres and revisit locations globally every seven to ten days, he added. Resolution is where Drishti aims to compete with the best in the world. The first satellite in the series will deliver imagery at around a 1.5-metre resolution, significantly sharper than the five-metre class that dominates many Indian SAR platforms.&nbsp;The spacecraft, roughly the size of a refrigerator, also carries a deployable antenna spanning about 3.5 metres.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company had earlier tested its imaging systems through nearly 500 aerial sorties involving drones, Cessna aircraft and high-altitude platforms, besides flying an earlier payload aboard an Isro PSLV mission under the POEM platform.&nbsp;The company said discussions have taken place with multiple Indian government departments, including defence and agriculture ministries, while agencies such as the Defence Space Agency, Indian Air Force, Army and Navy have been tracking the programme.&nbsp;<h2>Startup plans to build a constellation of 8 to 12 satellites, with even sharper imagery</h2>&nbsp;GalaxEye has also signed distribution partnerships across more than 20 countries. After Drishti’s launch, the startup plans to build a larger constellation of 8 to 12 satellites over the next four years, with future versions targeting even sharper imagery.&nbsp;Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Exernal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and the Indian space agency ISRO hailed the launch with congratulatory messages in their posts on X.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mission Drishti by GalaxEye marks a major achievement in our space journey. The successful launch of the world’s first OptoSAR satellite and the largest privately-built satellite in India is a testament to our youth’s passion for innovation and nation-building. Heartiest…&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/2050863398607544332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The specialty of Drishti is that it has both a multispectral camera and a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imager.The ongoing Iran war has shown why countries need eyes in the skies, as the US has barred space giant Vantor, formerly called Maxar, from sharing images from the conflict.&nbsp;Drishti was developed keeping in mind India’s geography and climate and where cloud cover is frequent and persistent, often rendering conventional optical satellites ineffective.“We found that India is a country which is tropical in nature. We have more clouds than the West,” Singh said.“The West has never thought about this concept because they never had this problem. If they have a clean sky, they will have a clean sky. If they have some cloud, they will have it for some time, and then it will go away.”&nbsp;“It is our own patent, and it is also a global patent. This can become the gold standard for the world. This is something that we are doing completely in India, never tried before in the world,” Singh added.GalaxEye was incubated at IIT Madras, an institution that has quietly become the cradle of multiple deep tech space startups.

Resolution is where Drishti aims to compete with the best in the world and can deliver imagery at a resolution of 1.5 metres and revisit locations globally every seven to ten days. It will support border surveillance, defence monitoring, disaster response, agriculture, and planning.

Drishti, a unique Earth observation satellite developed by Bengaluru-based GalaxEye was launched into the space aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from California on Sunday. The Indian space start-up says Drishti is the “world’s first OptoSAR satellite” and its launch is a milestone in the advancement of Earth observation technologies. Drishti is the Bengaluru-based space startup GalaxEye’s first commercial satellite. “Weighing 190 kg, Mission Drishti is India’s largest privately developed Earth observation satellite. It is the first satellite globally to integrate Electro-Optical (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors into a single operational platform, enabling all-weather, day-and-night imaging capabilities,” it said. ‘Drishti can see through clouds, darkness and bad weather’ Drishti is unique since it can “see” through clouds, darkness and bad weather while also capturing conventional optical imagery, as it carries a “SyncFused OptoSAR” payload, combining electro-optical imaging and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on a single platform. Optical satellites provide conventional high-resolution images, but their imagery is affected by cloud cover and darkness, while radar satellites can operate day and night and penetrate clouds, smoke, and rain, but their imagery is harder to interpret. GalaxEye has synchronised and combined both streams of data, and so Drishti can generate more consistent and usable imagery. It will support various applications ranging from border surveillance and defence monitoring to disaster response, agriculture, infrastructure planning, and insurance assessment. “Another key feature onboard is artificial intelligence processing powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Orin computing platform. Instead of transmitting vast quantities of raw imagery back to Earth for analysis, parts of the processing will happen directly in orbit. The idea is to reduce the time taken to convert satellite imagery into actionable information,” said GalaxEye co-founder and CEO Suyash Singh. Satellite can deliver imagery at a resolution of 1.5 metres The satellite can deliver imagery at a resolution of 1.5 metres and revisit locations globally every seven to ten days, he added. Resolution is where Drishti aims to compete with the best in the world. The first satellite in the series will deliver imagery at around a 1.5-metre resolution, significantly sharper than the five-metre class that dominates many Indian SAR platforms. The spacecraft, roughly the size of a refrigerator, also carries a deployable antenna spanning about 3.5 metres. The company had earlier tested its imaging systems through nearly 500 aerial sorties involving drones, Cessna aircraft and high-altitude platforms, besides flying an earlier payload aboard an Isro PSLV mission under the POEM platform. The company said discussions have taken place with multiple Indian government departments, including defence and agriculture ministries, while agencies such as the Defence Space Agency, Indian Air Force, Army and Navy have been tracking the programme. Startup plans to build a constellation of 8 to 12 satellites, with even sharper imagery GalaxEye has also signed distribution partnerships across more than 20 countries. After Drishti’s launch, the startup plans to build a larger constellation of 8 to 12 satellites over the next four years, with future versions targeting even sharper imagery. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Exernal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and the Indian space agency ISRO hailed the launch with congratulatory messages in their posts on X.

Resolution is where Drishti aims to compete with the best in the world and can deliver imagery at a resolution of 1.5 metres and revisit locations globally every seven to ten days. It will support border surveillance, defence monitoring, disaster response, agriculture, and planning.

Indian startup’s satellite ‘Drishti’ to provide world’s most advanced eyes in the sky

Indian Space agency ISRO has procured and operationalised a Russian-origin ‘RusBeam 2800’ industrial 3D printer that is capable of producing large-scale parts up to 2.8 metres in height and weighing up to four tonnes (4,000kg), including components with complex geometries. This 3-D printer, based on Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing technology (EBAM), will be used to manufacture metal parts for India’s aerospace industry. This machine uses high-energy electron beams to completely melt metal powder layer-by-layer to produce fully dense, high-strength metal parts. The advanced 3-D printer was supplied by the Fuel Division of the Russian Nuclear Power agency Rosatom, following an international tender process.&nbsp;Typical manufacturing is subtractive in nature, which means that the end product is obtained by using sophisticated cutting tools to chisel out a large block of metal into the desired shape and size. This method is best suited for high-volume mass production, high precision, and large parts. However, this process generates a lot of waste, as excess material is cut away.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the name suggests, Additive Manufacturing (3-D printing) is a process where objects are built layer-by-layer to minimize waste. This ensures that only the necessary amount of material is consumed for putting together the end product. Additive manufacturing is suitable for prototyping, creating objects with complex geometries, and low-volume production.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Rosatom is making a pivotal contribution to the strategic technological partnership between Russia and India. Following the December 2025 summit of our leaders, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi, their joint statement highlighted the prospects of cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy and space, including plans to deepen cooperation on non-energy nuclear applications and new non-nuclear products. We won this tender offering not only cutting-edge Russian hardware but also our technological expertise, materials, and service, all tailored to the customer’s requirements. We are already in discussions with our Indian partners regarding further supplies, joint R&amp;D in additive technologies, as well as potential localisation of equipment manufacturing in India,” said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom.&nbsp;The Russian Government firm touted that the ‘RusBeam 2800’ is now India’s largest electron-beam wire deposition 3-D printer operating under vacuum. It added that the 3-D printer was custom built for the Indian space agency. The system’s productivity is a key advantage: with a print speed of up to 50 mm/s, it can fabricate a 50 kg part within just five hours. The printer is compatible with a wide range of refractory and reactive materials, including titanium-, nickel-, and cobalt-chrome-based alloys, Rosatom said about the capabilities of its industrial 3-D printer.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The high deposition rate and vacuum-controlled environment of the EBAM machine from Rosatom, Russia represents a significant leap in ISRO’s capability to fabricate large-scale, near-net-shape components from advanced titanium alloys, superalloys and refractory alloys. By integrating this critical technology, we can drastically reduce lead times for aerospace structures while ensuring the material integrity required for the extreme conditions of space. This strategic addition to our additive manufacturing portfolio will be a cornerstone in achieving the rapid prototyping and production goals essential for our future orbital infrastructure and deep-space missions like Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksh Space Station and Chandrayaan missions,” said an official from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.&nbsp;ISRO’s Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is the agency’s lead facility. VSSC pioneers in rocket research and launch vehicle projects of ISRO. The Centre also pursues research and development activities in associated areas like propellants, solid propulsion technology, aerodynamics, aero structural and aero thermal fields, avionics, polymers and composites, guidance, control &amp; simulation, computers and information, mechanical engineering, aerospace mechanisms, vehicle integration and testing, stage separation systems, and chemicals and materials.

The strategic addition to our additive manufacturing portfolio will be a cornerstone in achieving the rapid prototyping and production goals essential for our future orbital infrastructure and deep-space missions like Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksh Space Station, and Chandrayaan missions.

Indian Space agency ISRO has procured and operationalised a Russian-origin ‘RusBeam 2800’ industrial 3D printer that is capable of producing large-scale parts up to 2.8 metres in height and weighing up to four tonnes (4,000kg), including components with complex geometries. This 3-D printer, based on Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing technology (EBAM), will be used to manufacture metal parts for India’s aerospace industry. This machine uses high-energy electron beams to completely melt metal powder layer-by-layer to produce fully dense, high-strength metal parts. The advanced 3-D printer was supplied by the Fuel Division of the Russian Nuclear Power agency Rosatom, following an international tender process. Typical manufacturing is subtractive in nature, which means that the end product is obtained by using sophisticated cutting tools to chisel out a large block of metal into the desired shape and size. This method is best suited for high-volume mass production, high precision, and large parts. However, this process generates a lot of waste, as excess material is cut away. As the name suggests, Additive Manufacturing (3-D printing) is a process where objects are built layer-by-layer to minimize waste. This ensures that only the necessary amount of material is consumed for putting together the end product. Additive manufacturing is suitable for prototyping, creating objects with complex geometries, and low-volume production. “Rosatom is making a pivotal contribution to the strategic technological partnership between Russia and India. Following the December 2025 summit of our leaders, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi, their joint statement highlighted the prospects of cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy and space, including plans to deepen cooperation on non-energy nuclear applications and new non-nuclear products. We won this tender offering not only cutting-edge Russian hardware but also our technological expertise, materials, and service, all tailored to the customer’s requirements. We are already in discussions with our Indian partners regarding further supplies, joint R&D in additive technologies, as well as potential localisation of equipment manufacturing in India,” said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom. The Russian Government firm touted that the ‘RusBeam 2800’ is now India’s largest electron-beam wire deposition 3-D printer operating under vacuum. It added that the 3-D printer was custom built for the Indian space agency. The system’s productivity is a key advantage: with a print speed of up to 50 mm/s, it can fabricate a 50 kg part within just five hours. The printer is compatible with a wide range of refractory and reactive materials, including titanium-, nickel-, and cobalt-chrome-based alloys, Rosatom said about the capabilities of its industrial 3-D printer. “The high deposition rate and vacuum-controlled environment of the EBAM machine from Rosatom, Russia represents a significant leap in ISRO’s capability to fabricate large-scale, near-net-shape components from advanced titanium alloys, superalloys and refractory alloys. By integrating this critical technology, we can drastically reduce lead times for aerospace structures while ensuring the material integrity required for the extreme conditions of space. This strategic addition to our additive manufacturing portfolio will be a cornerstone in achieving the rapid prototyping and production goals essential for our future orbital infrastructure and deep-space missions like Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksh Space Station and Chandrayaan missions,” said an official from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. ISRO’s Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is the agency’s lead facility. VSSC pioneers in rocket research and launch vehicle projects of ISRO. The Centre also pursues research and development activities in associated areas like propellants, solid propulsion technology, aerodynamics, aero structural and aero thermal fields, avionics, polymers and composites, guidance, control & simulation, computers and information, mechanical engineering, aerospace mechanisms, vehicle integration and testing, stage separation systems, and chemicals and materials.

The strategic addition to our additive manufacturing portfolio will be a cornerstone in achieving the rapid prototyping and production goals essential for our future orbital infrastructure and deep-space missions like Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksh Space Station, and Chandrayaan missions.

ISRO gets Russian 3-D printer to make aerospace components

Indian space agency ISRO has successfully completed the second Integrated Air Drop test(IADT), an air-sea coordinated effort done in preparation for the Gaganyaan astronaut mission. ISRO conducted the IADT along with the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, off the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This test was meant to validate the series of parachutes that sequentially deploy to ensure the safe and smooth splashdown of the capsule meant to carry India's astronauts.The announcement regarding the successful completion of the test came from Dr Jitendra Singh, India's science minister. However, ISRO has not revealed any information regarding this test and how it is different from the IADT carried out in August 2025.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-akshay-patra-of-power-how-new-advanced-atomic-reactor-is-key-to-india-s-1-000-year-energy-plan-1775559002801">How new advanced atomic reactor is key to India’s 1,000-year energy plan</a><h2>What is the IADT test? How is it done?</h2>The test involves an Indian Air Force Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, which carries an underslung load of 4,000-5000kg (the Gaganyaan astronaut-carrying capsule). The tandem-rotor helicopter lifts the capsule to an altitude of about 3,000-4,000meters (3-4 kilometres), and then drops it into the sea, typically at least 10 kilometres away from the coast.As the capsule descends rapidly, it sequentially deploys a series of parachutes to slow itself down for a safe and smooth splashdown landing. Think of it like skydiving: as soon as one jumps out of the plane, the descent is rapid and uncontrolled. But when the parachutes are deployed, the descent becomes controlled and slow. This test validates the deployment of multiple parachutes and related systems installed on the Gaganyaan crew module.Such a safe splashdown landing using a series of parachutes is the crucial final step when an astronaut-carrying capsule returns from space.&nbsp; Once the capsule safely splashes down, the Indian Navy's vessels pre-positioned in the region deploy their smaller boats to approach the capsule, inspect it, and connect the capsule to a ship-borne crane. Thereafter, the capsule gets lifted up by the massive ship-borne crane and is safely placed on the ship's deck.This operation will be closely monitored from the air and sea by a range of assets belonging to ISRO, Navy, and IAF. Parachutes for this test have been developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Being a national mission, Gaganyaan requires multi-agency synergy and coordination.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-why-didn-t-she-save-my-daughter-mother-of-rg-kar-rape-murder-victim-enters-west-bengal-election-fray-vows-to-defeat-mamata-banerjee-1775707531406">RG Kar rape-murder victim's mother vows to defeat Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal</a><h2>IADT is one among thousands of Gaganyaan-related tests</h2>In the process of accomplishing the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, ISRO must conduct thousands of tests spanning various technical domains: electrical, mechanical, chemical, software, materials, navigation, guidance, automation, etc.While thousands of tests have been completed, several thousand remain, and new technologies are being tested and validated. However, most of the testing happens behind closed doors, and it is only the rare ones like IADT and other rocketry-related tests that happen out in the open and with the involvement of military assets.As for the high-profile tests that happen in the open, ISRO has to accomplish more Integrated Air Drop Tests, more Test Vehicle launches (mid-flight abort and ejection), Pad Abort Tests (ejecting, saving crew capsule from a potential rocket explosion at launchpad), and multiple unmanned flights of the whole Gaganyaan rocket and spacecraft, using a robot instead of astronauts.Only when all these tests go flawlessly can ISRO put astronauts on its rocket and fly them to space. In 2018, Indian Prime Minister Modi announced that Gaganyaan would be accomplished in 2022. At present, the Indian Government says that Gaganyaan would be accomplished in 2027. However, given the pace of activities, it is evident that it could take years more.&nbsp;

How close is India to sending humans into space? After a key parachute drop test, ISRO has taken another step toward its ambitious Gaganyaan mission. Scroll down to read more.

Indian space agency ISRO has successfully completed the second Integrated Air Drop test(IADT), an air-sea coordinated effort done in preparation for the Gaganyaan astronaut mission. ISRO conducted the IADT along with the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, off the Indian spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This test was meant to validate the series of parachutes that sequentially deploy to ensure the safe and smooth splashdown of the capsule meant to carry India's astronauts. The announcement regarding the successful completion of the test came from Dr Jitendra Singh, India's science minister. However, ISRO has not revealed any information regarding this test and how it is different from the IADT carried out in August 2025. Also read | How new advanced atomic reactor is key to India’s 1,000-year energy plan What is the IADT test? How is it done? The test involves an Indian Air Force Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, which carries an underslung load of 4,000-5000kg (the Gaganyaan astronaut-carrying capsule). The tandem-rotor helicopter lifts the capsule to an altitude of about 3,000-4,000meters (3-4 kilometres), and then drops it into the sea, typically at least 10 kilometres away from the coast. As the capsule descends rapidly, it sequentially deploys a series of parachutes to slow itself down for a safe and smooth splashdown landing. Think of it like skydiving: as soon as one jumps out of the plane, the descent is rapid and uncontrolled. But when the parachutes are deployed, the descent becomes controlled and slow. This test validates the deployment of multiple parachutes and related systems installed on the Gaganyaan crew module. Such a safe splashdown landing using a series of parachutes is the crucial final step when an astronaut-carrying capsule returns from space. Once the capsule safely splashes down, the Indian Navy's vessels pre-positioned in the region deploy their smaller boats to approach the capsule, inspect it, and connect the capsule to a ship-borne crane. Thereafter, the capsule gets lifted up by the massive ship-borne crane and is safely placed on the ship's deck. This operation will be closely monitored from the air and sea by a range of assets belonging to ISRO, Navy, and IAF. Parachutes for this test have been developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Being a national mission, Gaganyaan requires multi-agency synergy and coordination. Also read | RG Kar rape-murder victim's mother vows to defeat Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal IADT is one among thousands of Gaganyaan-related tests In the process of accomplishing the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, ISRO must conduct thousands of tests spanning various technical domains: electrical, mechanical, chemical, software, materials, navigation, guidance, automation, etc. While thousands of tests have been completed, several thousand remain, and new technologies are being tested and validated. However, most of the testing happens behind closed doors, and it is only the rare ones like IADT and other rocketry-related tests that happen out in the open and with the involvement of military assets. As for the high-profile tests that happen in the open, ISRO has to accomplish more Integrated Air Drop Tests, more Test Vehicle launches (mid-flight abort and ejection), Pad Abort Tests (ejecting, saving crew capsule from a potential rocket explosion at launchpad), and multiple unmanned flights of the whole Gaganyaan rocket and spacecraft, using a robot instead of astronauts. Only when all these tests go flawlessly can ISRO put astronauts on its rocket and fly them to space. In 2018, Indian Prime Minister Modi announced that Gaganyaan would be accomplished in 2022. At present, the Indian Government says that Gaganyaan would be accomplished in 2027. However, given the pace of activities, it is evident that it could take years more.

How close is India to sending humans into space? After a key parachute drop test, ISRO has taken another step toward its ambitious Gaganyaan mission. Scroll down to read more.

ISRO accomplishes second air drop test of Gaganyaan capsule

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