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ISRO successfully launched its heaviest communication satellite CMS-03, weighing 4,410 kg, on the LVM3-M5 ‘Bahubali’ rocket from Sriharikota, marking a major step in India’s self-reliant space capabilities.

ISRO scripts history as 'Bahubali' rocket injects heaviest satellite in orbit

ISRO successfully launched its heaviest communication satellite CMS-03, weighing 4,410 kg, on the LVM3-M5 &lsquo;Bahubali&rsquo; rocket from Sriharikota, marking a major step in India&rsquo;s self-reliant space capabilities.

The heaviest communication satellite to be launched from Indian soil onboard a new-generation, homegrown 'Bahubali' rocket was successfully placed into the intended orbit on Sunday, ISRO said.
The communication satellite CMS-03, weighing 4,410 kg, was flown on a LVM3-M5 rocket, enabling the Indian space agency to accomplish this rare feat. CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite and would provide services over a wide oceanic region including the Indian landmass, according to ISRO. The satellite was placed in the desired Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). It is also a replacement for the GSAT 7 series, launched in 2013.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the launch vehicle successfully injected the communication satellite into the required orbit. &ldquo;The 4410 kg satellite is precisely injected,&rdquo; he said. In his address from the Mission Control Center post-launch, he described the LVM3 satellite as 'Bahubali,' in an apparent reference to its heavy-lift capability.
He recalled that the rocket&rsquo;s previous launch was the &ldquo;most prestigious Chandrayaan 3 which brought pride to the nation.&rdquo; It achieved &ldquo;yet another pride&rdquo; on Sunday after succeeding with the &ldquo;heavier satellite.&rdquo; All the eight LVM3 launches, including its experimental mission, have been successful, showing a 100 percent success rate.
The satellite was designed to provide communication services for at least 15 years and is &ldquo;yet another shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India),&rdquo; Narayanan, also Secretary, Department of Space, added. The ISRO scientists had a tough time with the mission since the weather was not cooperative, but they worked hard and ensured success, he said.
Prior to Sunday&rsquo;s launch, the Indian space agency had been utilising the services of the Kourou launch base in French Guiana by Ariane rockets offered by France-based Arianespace for launching heavier satellites. On December 5, 2018, ISRO had launched its heaviest communication satellite GSAT-11 weighing 5,854 kg onboard an Ariane-5 VA-246 rocket from French Guiana.
LVM3-M5, a three-stage launch vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110), and a cryogenic stage (C25), gives ISRO full self-reliance in launching heavier communication satellites that weigh up to 4,000 kg in GTO. LVM3 is also termed by ISRO scientists as Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) MkIII. Scientists at ISRO have classified launch vehicles depending upon the mission objectives, targeted orbit, and altitude, among others.
The launch vehicles or launchers used by ISRO include the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), GSLV, and LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-III). The space agency has been providing launch services for customer satellites since 1999 from Sriharikota. PSLV has been ISRO&rsquo;s trusted workhorse for scientists due to its reliability in achieving mission success. PSLV has been a versatile launch vehicle and can carry payloads of about 1,750 kg.
For satellites weighing up to 500 kg and required to be placed in Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of about 500 km, ISRO banks on its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). The GSLV with a cryogenic upper stage is used for carrying heavier satellites of about 2,200 kg, while the LVM3 rockets have enhanced the capability by carrying payloads of over 4,000 kg, ISRO said.
As regards Sunday&rsquo;s mission, the LVM3 rocket holds significance as it has successfully launched the heaviest communication satellite from Indian soil. The LVM3-M5 is the fifth operational flight, ISRO said. The LVM3 vehicle was developed with completely indigenous technology including the C25 cryogenic stage. It has a track record of all successful launches, from the first development flight LVM3 Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) launched in December 2014, ISRO said.
For the ambitious Gaganyaan Mission, ISRO has planned the human-rated LVM3 rocket as the launch vehicle, which is named HRLV, ISRO said. This LVM3 rocket is capable of carrying payloads to GTO weighing 4,000 kg and to Low Earth Orbit payloads of 8,000 kg with its powerful cryogenic stage. The two S200 solid rocket boosters located on the sides of the rocket provide the thrust required for lift-off. The S200 boosters are developed at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.
The third stage is the L110 Liquid Stage and is powered by two Vikas engines designed and developed at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. The previous mission of the LVM3 rocket was the successful launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, wherein India became the first country to land successfully near the lunar South Pole in 2023. The satellite weighed 3,841.4 kg.

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirms plans to land Indians on the Moon by 2040, launch the Gaganyaan human space mission by 2027, and build a national space station by 2035, with major lunar, Mars, and Venus missions underway.

Crewed Moon mission by 2040; maiden human spaceflight to launch in 2027: ISRO chief Narayanan

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirms plans to land Indians on the Moon by 2040, launch the Gaganyaan human space mission by 2027, and build a national space station by 2035, with major lunar, Mars, and Venus missions underway.

ISRO chairman V Narayanan on Wednesday said the space agency has set a target of landing Indians on the Moon by 2040, while its maiden human spaceflight mission 'Gaganyaan' is on track for launch in 2027.
Narayanan said a slew of ambitious space projects and sector reforms were currently underway, including a national space station by 2035, and three uncrewed 'Gaganyaan' missions by 2026, with the first one that includes a half-humanoid robot 'Vyommitra', targeted for December 2025.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a guideline for an indigenous crewed lunar mission by 2040, under which we have to land our own citizens on the moon and bring them back safely. A Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) has also been approved to study the planet," Narayanan said in an exclusive interview with PTI.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief said the Bharatiya Antriksh Station (BAS) is expected to come up by 2035, and initial modules in space are expected as early as 2027.
He was here to attend the 35th convocation ceremony of Ranchi-based Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesra as the chief guest.
"There are a lot of developments in 'Gaganyaan'. We are planning some more experiments. Before the crewed mission, we are planning three uncrewed missions. 'Vyommitra' is going to fly on that in December this year. Two more uncrewed missions will take place next year. Crewed 'Gaganyaan' mission would be possible by 2027 first quarter," Narayanan added.
With Modi defining a clear roadmap and rolling out reforms for the space sector, ISRO is moving with confidence and clarity towards realising the dream of a self-reliant and vibrant space ecosystem, he said.
He said India&rsquo;s upcoming projects include Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5, a new Mars mission, and AXOM, a high-priority astronomical observatory mission.
"The Aditya-L1 mission has already yielded over 15 terabits of solar data, with valuable insights into coronal mass ejections and space weather," Narayanan added.
"We are open to international collaborations," he said, emphasising that while India is committed to self-reliance, climate science and space research, which are global concerns, "how and where we collaborate will be debated and decided based on scientific and strategic priorities." Highlighting the role of reforms, Narayanan said the space sector has been transformed through the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), which integrates startups and private players into the national ecosystem.
"Just a few years ago, there were barely one or two startups in the space sector. Today, there are over 300 working on satellite manufacturing, launch services, and space-based data analytics," he said.
"This shift is seen as crucial to meeting India's rising demand for satellite-based applications in agriculture, disaster management, telecommunication, real-time train and vehicle monitoring, and fisheries," he added.
For missions like crewed lunar landing, India needs to enhance its launch capacity and space infrastructure and has already started work to build its space station.
"From launching 35 kg initially to now envisioning 80,000 kg &mdash; that is the scale of transformation we are aiming for," he said.
Talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and Big Data, he said these are becoming integral to space missions.
"Just like no one imagined the computer revolution 35 years ago, AI and robotics will define the next era of space exploration," the scientist remarked.
He said today India stands as the world's fourth-largest economy, with a burgeoning space sector that is not only matching, but often surpassing global benchmarks.
"From discovering water on the Moon with Chandrayaan-1, to the first soft landing near the lunar south pole with Chandrayaan-3, India has set multiple world records in space. Today, we are No. 1 in nine areas globally," he asserted.
The ISRO chief added that India has become the fourth country to successfully achieve docking and undocking in space with the success of SPADEX mission.
"We also completed the 100th launch from Sriharikota &mdash; the GSLV F15/NVS-02 Mission &mdash; and received final approval for a third launch pad catering to all launch vehicles, including the next-generation NGLV, at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore," Narayanan said.
On Atomic energy, he said, currently India has 23 nuclear reactors across eight major nuclear plants, including Tarapur and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
Narayanan took charge as ISRO Chairman in January 2025. He earlier served as director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), one of ISRO&rsquo;s key facilities.

ISRO successfully carried out the Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) near Sriharikota, validating the parachute-based deceleration system of the Gaganyaan crew module, a crucial step for safe landing in future missions.

ISRO Achieves Major Milestone with Successful Gaganyaan Parachute Test

ISRO's Successful Parachute Test for Gaganyaan Mission

ISRO successfully carried out the Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) near Sriharikota, validating the parachute-based deceleration system of the Gaganyaan crew module, a crucial step for safe landing in future missions.

The Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) performed by ISRO on Sunday near Sriharikota marks an essential step in the system-level qualification of the parachute-based deceleration system for the Gaganyaan programme, ISRO has said.
The space agency said the test at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, "successfully demonstrated the objective of end-to-end performance validation of the critical parachute-based deceleration system of the Crew Module for Gaganyaan mission in one of the typical mission scenarios." It described the exercise as part of the "system level qualification of parachute-based deceleration system, in which a simulated Crew Module (CM), encompassing the deceleration system is dropped using a helicopter." Explaining its purpose, ISRO said, in a press release issued late on Sunday, "In Gaganyaan missions, parachute-based deceleration system is employed during the terminal phase of crew module descent to reduce the touchdown velocity to an acceptable limit for safe landing on sea." The parachute system tested was "the same as that of Gaganyaan missions" and comprised ten parachutes -- two Apex Cover Separation (ACS), two Drogue, three Pilot and three Main canopies.
The 4.8-tonne simulated Crew Module was released from about 3 km altitude using the Indian Air Force's Chinook heavy-lift helicopter. "The deceleration system initiation began with firing of ACS Mortar, which deploys the &Atilde;2.5 m ACS parachutes, which is followed by the separation of Apex cover," ISRO said.
Drogue parachutes provided the first stage of deceleration, before being released to allow three Pilot parachutes to deploy the three Main parachutes of 25 metres diameter.
"Further, main parachutes reduced the terminal velocity of the simulated Crew Module to about 8m/s. After touchdown, the Main parachutes were released using parachute releasers. These parachutes, totaling ten in number, deployed in a precise sequence to gradually decrease the velocity of the Crew Module for safe touchdown," the agency said.
The test simulated "a possible abort scenario on the launch pad," with onboard avionics commanding the deceleration sequence and telemetering data to ground.
Post splashdown, "the simulated Crew Module was successfully recovered and ferried back on INS Anvesha to Chennai port," ISRO added.
The agency said "extensive modeling of CM as well as helicopter was carried out to address the dynamics of underslung body" and multiple trial sorties were completed before clearance by the Test Authorisation Board (TAB).
Apart from ISRO centres, "other governmental agencies, including DRDO, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard also contributed in the successful accomplishment of this major test," ISRO said.
"Similar tests at different deployment conditions are planned in the forthcoming days," it added.

ISRO and NASA successfully launch $1.5 billion NISAR satellite aboard GSLV F-16, marking their first joint Earth observation mission into Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit.

Indo-US space collaboration takes flight with NISAR satellite success

ISRO and NASA successfully launch $1.5 billion NISAR satellite aboard GSLV F-16, marking their first joint Earth observation mission into Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit.

India and the US on Wednesday marked their maiden space collaboration with the successful flight of a GSLV rocket that placed an earth observation satellite, jointly developed by ISRO and NASA, in a precise orbit in what was described as an "outstanding success" by the Indian space agency.
ISRO's GSLV F-16 injected NISAR--NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, into the intended Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), after a flight of about 19 minutes and around 745 km, marking the culmination of a decade-long cooperation between the top two space agencies of the world.
"I am extremely happy to announce that GSLV F-16 successfully injected the NISAR satellite into intended orbit," ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said about the 102nd launch from here.
Reportedly, Wednesday's mission was the world's most expensive at an estimated USD 1.5 bn. Also, this was the first GSLV mission to the SSPO and till date, all the GSLV missions have been going to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
"And being the SSPO mission, several analyses and studies were carried out to make this mission a grand success." Cryogenic upper stage corrections and a host of mission simulations were carried out very systematically and meticulously, Narayanan added.
"All the vehicle system performances were quite normal as expected and as predicted. Today, we achieved the intended orbit. Actually we have got an orbit with a dispersion (deviation from desired orbit) of less than 3 km as against the permissible level of 20 km...all parameters are as expected," he said.
"NISAR is an all-weather day and night imaging satellite that will scan the entire earth at a 12 day interval. The satellite integrates ISRO's S-band synthetic aperture radar with NASA's L-band SAR payload and 12 metre unfurlable antenna to become a first of its kind dual frequency SAR satellite," Narayanan, also Secretary, Department of Space, added.
Deputy Associate Administrator at NASA, Casey Swails said it was an incredible decade culminating in this moment from the technical collaborations, the cultural understandings, getting to know each other building that team across continents, time zones.
"This mission is truly a pathfinder, not just in regards to our technical collaborations because those are truly incredible but earth science mission is one of a kind which really shows the world what the two nations can do. But more than that it is really a pathfinder for the relationship building across our two nations, across India and the United States building upon decades of collaborations that already existed," she added.
Earlier, at the end of the 27.30 hour countdown, the 51.7 metre tall launch vehicle carrying the 2,393 kg satellite majestically lifted-off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, here, situated about 135 km east of Chennai at a prefixed time of 5.40 pm.
Post the separation from the rocket, the scientists would embark on commissioning the satellite which would take "several days" to be positioned and meet the mission objectives.
According to ISRO, the S-band Radar system, data handling and high-speed downlink system, the spacecraft and the launch system are developed by the national space agency. The L-band Radar system, high speed downlink system, the Solid State Recorder, GPS receiver, the 9m Boom hoisting the 12m reflector are delivered by US-based National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA).
"Further, ISRO is responsible for the satellite commanding and operations. NASA will provide the orbit maneuver plan and RADAR operations plan. NISAR mission will be aided with ground station support of both ISRO and NASA for downloading of the acquired images, which after the necessary processing will be disseminated to the user community," it said.
The data acquired through S-band and L-band SAR from a single platform will help the scientists to understand the changes happening to Earth.
According to ISRO, the NISAR mission's primary objectives are to study land and ice deformation, land ecosystems, and oceanic regions in areas of common interest to the US and Indian scientific communities.
The mission would help in measuring the woody biomass, track changes in the extent of active crops, understand the changes in wetlands extent among others.
The mission life of NISAR is 5 year.
NASA said the data from NISAR mission would provide critical insights to help governments and decision-makers plan for natural and human-caused hazards. NISAR can help with hazard-monitoring efforts and potentially give decision- makers more time to prepare for a possible disaster.
The RADAR satellite would provide a 3D view of the Earth's land and ice and through its ability to see through clouds and light rain, day and night, the satellite would enable data users to continuously monitor earthquake and landslide prone areas and determine how quickly glaciers and ice sheets are changing.
The data collected from the satellite would also offer an 'unprecedented coverage of Antarctica, an information that would help with studying how the continent's ice sheet changes over time.
The NISAR mission would help the two space agencies to monitor ecosystems around the world and the L band penetrates deep into forest canopies, providing insights into forest structure, while the S-band radar is monitoring crops.

The ISRO-NASA NISAR satellite, designed to study Earth’s land, ice, and ocean dynamics, is scheduled for launch today aboard GSLV-F16 from Sriharikota.

NASA-ISRO collaborative satellite NISAR all set for launch

The ISRO-NASA NISAR satellite, designed to study Earth&rsquo;s land, ice, and ocean dynamics, is scheduled for launch today aboard GSLV-F16 from Sriharikota.

Aimed at boosting ties between India and the United States on space exploration, India is geared up to launch an earth observation satellite jointly developed by ISRO and NASA on Wednesday.
Eyeing to study the planet Earth as a whole from a Sun-synchronous Orbit, the NISAR satellite is a combination of human skills and exchange of software and hardware between the two space agencies for over a decade.
NISAR, an acronym for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, weighing 2,393 kg is expected to fly on a 51.7 metre tall, three stage, GSLV-F16 rocket at a prefixed time of 5.40 pm from the second launch pad at this spaceport situated about 135 km from Chennai on Wednesday.
The countdown for the launch commenced at 2.10 pm on July 29 and has been progressing, ISRO said, and the mission would be classified into launch phase, deployment phase, commissioning phase and science phase.
"GSLV-F16/NISAR Today&rsquo;s the day! Launch Day has arrived for GSLV-F16 and NISAR. GSLV-F16 is standing tall on the launch pad. NISAR is ready. Liftoff today," ISRO said in a social media post on Wednesday.
While the partnership between ISRO and NASA is first of its kind, it is also the first time for a GSLV rocket to carry a rocket destined to Sun-synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) unlike Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles.
The Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO has sent similar missions in the past (Resourcesat, RISAT) to study the Earth but were "operationally focused" on Indian territory. The NISAR mission is targeted to study the Earth and would provide information to global scientific fraternity, ISRO said.
The satellite would be able to study seasonal changes on forest dynamics, mountain shifts, glacier movements in the Himalayas and Antarctica, North and South poles.
NISAR mission's primary objectives are to study land and ice deformation, land ecosystems, and oceanic regions in areas of common interest to the United States and Indian science communities.
ISRO said the complex payloads and mainframe systems in the mission have been designed, developed, and realised over a period of 8 to 10 years.
Scientists from both space agencies were involved in extensive collaborations and the NISAR satellite carries dual frequency -- two L Band provided by NASA and S-Band provided by ISRO for the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) enabling the collection of a vast amount of data.
The S-Band SAR and L-Band SAR were independently developed, integrated and tested at ISRO and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, United States, respectively, ISRO said.
After reaching the initial orbital conditions on Wednesday, scientists would engage in 'commissioning' the satellite.
The first 90 days after launch would be dedicated to commissioning or to perform In-Orbit Checkout, the objective of which is to prepare the observatory for science operations, ISRO said.
The dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar employs an advanced, SweepSAR technique, which provides high resolution and large swath imagery. NISAR would image the global land and ice-covered surfaces, including islands, sea-ice and oceans, every 12 days.
The spacecraft and the launch system are developed by ISRO while the L-band Radar system, high speed downlink system, GPS receiver are delivered by NASA. ISRO is responsible for the satellite and commanding operations, while NASA would provide the orbit manoeuver and RADAR operations plan.
NISAR mission would be aided with ground station support of both the two space agencies for downloading the acquired images, which, after the necessary processing, would be disseminated to the user community.
GSLV-F16 is the 18th flight of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 12th with indigenous cryogenic stage. It is also the 102nd launch from Sriharikota.
The life of the NISAR Mission is 5 years, ISRO said.

ISRO-NASA’s Earth observation satellite NISAR, equipped with dual-frequency radar, to launch on July 30 from Sriharikota using India’s GSLV-F16 rocket.

ISRO-NASA Earth Observation Satellite NISAR Set to Launch

Earth observation NISAR satellite will be launched on Jul 30, says ISRO chairman

ISRO-NASA&rsquo;s Earth observation satellite NISAR, equipped with dual-frequency radar, to launch on July 30 from Sriharikota using India&rsquo;s GSLV-F16 rocket.

The unique Earth observation satellite NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) will be launched through the GSLV-S16 on July 30, said ISRO chairman V Narayanan.
Weighing 2,392 kg, NISAR is a unique Earth observation satellite and the first to observe the Earth with a dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (NASA&rsquo;s L-band and ISRO&rsquo;s S-band) both using NASA&rsquo;s 12m unfurlable mesh reflector antenna, integrated to ISRO&rsquo;s modified 13k satellite bus.
It will observe earth with a swath of 242 km and high spatial resolution, using SweepSAR technology for the first time, according to the space agency.
It will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
&ldquo;The Earth observation satellite jointly developed by ISRO and NASA will be sent into space on July 30 by the GSLV-F16 rocket made in India,&rdquo; Indian Space Research Organisation chairman V Narayanan said.
It will be launched at a distance of 740 km. It can take pictures of the earth 24 hours a day in all weather conditions and the satellite can detect landslides, aid in disaster management and monitor climate change, he said while speaking to reporters at the airport here on Sunday night.
&ldquo;The satellite will benefit India, the US and the entire world&hellip; it is also crucial for monitoring earth&rsquo;s natural resources,&rdquo; he added.
On Gaganyaan, India's human spaceflight Mission, Narayanan said a humanoid, called Vyommitra, will be sent into space in December this year. Once it proved to be successful, two other uncrewed missions would be launched next year.
Following the success, the Gaganyaan Mission will be launched in March 2027 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.&nbsp;

ISRO has completed two successful hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System at Mahendragiri, validating key engine configurations ahead of India's first crewed space mission.

ISRO successfully conducts hot tests of Gaganyaan propulsion system

ISRO has completed two successful hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System at Mahendragiri, validating key engine configurations ahead of India's first crewed space mission.

ISRO has successfully condscucted two hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at the space agency's Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri on July 3.
The short-duration tests, lasting 30 seconds and 100 seconds respectively, were aimed at validating the test article configuration, ISRO said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The overall performance of the propulsion system during these hot tests was normal as per pre-test predictions. During the 100s test, simultaneous operation of all Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters in different modes (steady state; pulsed) along with all Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines was also successfully demonstrated.
"ISRO's Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) is leading the technology development activities for the Gaganyaan SMPS. SMPS is a critical system of Gaganyaan Orbital Module and is required during orbital manoeuvring as well as specific abort scenarios," the space agency said.
It comprises five Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines (each 440N thrust) and 16 Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters (each 100N thrust). In order to simulate the propulsion system conditions closer to flight, the SMPS test article for these hot tests incorporated improvements based on experience gained from earlier hot tests.
"With the confidence gained through these hot tests, ISRO will conduct a full duration hot test shortly," the statement said.
According to ISRO, the Gaganyaan programme aims to demonstrate India&rsquo;s capability to launch a crewed spacecraft into low Earth orbit, and the experience and knowledge gained from this mission will be crucial for its success.

This state-of-the-art equipment is a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI).

ISRO Reveals Largest Planetary Mixer for Propellant

ISRO unveils World's largest vertical mixer for propellant production

This state-of-the-art equipment is a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI).

In a groundbreaking development, India's space technology has reached new heights with the creation of the world's largest vertical planetary mixer, designed for solid propellant production.
This state-of-the-art equipment is a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI).
During a handover ceremony on February 13 in Bengaluru, the mixer was officially handed over to the Director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), A. Rajarajan, in the presence of ISRO Chairman S. Somanath and CMTI Director K. Prasad.
Enhancing solid propellant production
The advanced mixer represents a pivotal component in India's space propulsion capabilities. Solid propellants, essential for rocket motors, demand meticulous and controlled mixing due to the sensitive nature of the materials. Weighing 150 tonnes and measuring 5.4 meters in length, 3.3 meters in breadth, and 8.7 meters in height, this new mixer promises to significantly enhance the consistency, quality, and scalability of solid propellant production.
Driving towards self-reliance in space technology
This development marks another milestone in India's mission for self-sufficiency in key technologies. The Department of Space has been proactively advancing indigenous manufacturing, and this mixer is testament to India's growing prowess in aerospace engineering and production. After successful factory-level acceptance tests, the mixer is poised to play a crucial role in advancing the nation's space transportation infrastructure.
Implications for future ISRO missions
The introduction of this mixer emphasizes the importance of improving both safety and efficiency in solid propellant preparation for future ISRO endeavors. This technological breakthrough is expected to underpin upcoming launch vehicle developments, further solidifying India's influence in the international space sector.

India’s first astronaut IAF pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is gearing up for a historic mission to the ISS.

Shubhanshu Shukla's Historic ISS Mission

India&rsquo;s first astronaut IAF pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is gearing up for a historic mission to the ISS.

In space programme, India has made history in many ways, earlier. Another feather added to It's crown! Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is all set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station. The mission is scheduled to launch from Florida in USA.
He has been assigned as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, part of a collaborative initiative between NASA and ISRO. It marks an all new chapter in India's space mission journey. NASA has announced that the launch is slated for "no earlier than spring 2025."
Captain Shubhanshu Shukla expressed his eagerness to share his experience with fellow Indians. He plans to carry items symbolizing India on his journey and even hopes to perform yoga poses aboard the space station.
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Captain Shukla has already established himself as a distinguished IAF pilot. Commissioned into the fighter wing in June 2006, he has accumulated an impressive 2,000 hours of flight experience across diverse aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. Achieving the rank of group captain in March 2024, Shukla is also the astronaut-designate for India&rsquo;s Gaganyaan mission.
In 2019, a pivotal call from ISRO led Shukla to undergo rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow&mdash;a transformative year-long preparation for his astronautical pursuits.
This mission, Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), also heralds significant milestones for Poland and Hungary, marking each nation&rsquo;s return to human spaceflight in over 40 years. This is the first time these three countries will participate in a mission on the ISS together, highlighting Axiom Space's role in reshaping global low-Earth orbit access and advancing national space initiatives.
Commanded by former NASA astronaut and Axiom Space's Director of Human Spaceflight, Peggy Whitson, the mission includes Shukla as the pilot and two European Space Agency project astronauts, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, as mission specialists. The astronauts aim to spend up to 14 days on the ISS, engaging in various scientific, outreach, and commercial ventures. This historic mission signifies a bold step for international cooperation and technological advancement in space exploration.

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, will become India's second astronaut in space. 

 Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla named pilot for NASA's Axiom Mission 4 to ISS

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, will become India's second astronaut in space.&nbsp;

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer recently selected as the 'Prime' astronaut for the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Gaganyaan mission, has now been named the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, scheduled for Spring 2025.&nbsp;
The Ax-4 mission will be led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Axiom Space's Director of Human Spaceflight.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Meet the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ax4?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ax4</a> crew. 🇺🇸 Commander Peggy Whitson 🇮🇳 Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> 🇵🇱 Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of ESA/<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Poland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Poland</a> 🇭🇺 Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hungary?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hungary</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jjx8ERGqFf">pic.twitter.com/Jjx8ERGqFf</a>
&mdash; Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) <a href="https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1884983916127264867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Shukla will be joined by mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. This mission marks a significant milestone as it will be the first government-sponsored human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary in over 40 years.
Shubhanshu Shukla will become India's second astronaut in space since 1984. His journey began in June 2006 when he was commissioned into the IAF's fighter wing.&nbsp;
As a seasoned combat leader and test pilot, Shukla has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours across various aircraft types, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.&nbsp;
His rise to the rank of Group Captain in March 2024 reflects his extraordinary contributions to the IAF. In 2019, Shukla received a transformative call from ISRO and embarked on intense training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, preparing him for future space missions.
On February 27, 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially announced Shukla as one of the astronauts undergoing intensive training for India's first-ever human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, scheduled for 2025.&nbsp;
By August 2024, Shukla had been selected as the 'Prime' astronaut for the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as his backup astronaut.&nbsp;
The Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate India's human spaceflight capabilities, with a crew of three astronauts orbiting at 400 km for three days before safely returning to Earth, landing in Indian sea waters.
India&rsquo;s space sector has seen remarkable advancements in recent years, especially with successful missions like Chandrayaan-3&rsquo;s lunar landing and the Aditya L1 Solar Mission. ISRO&rsquo;s Gaganyaan program has also been making significant progress, as has the agency&rsquo;s work on reusable launch vehicles, expanding satellite portfolios, and a commitment to building an Indian space station by 2035.&nbsp;
On January 29, 2024, ISRO successfully launched the GSLV-F15 carrying the NVS-02 satellite, marking the 100th launch from India&rsquo;s spaceport at Sriharikota.

ISRO successfully launched the GSLV-F15 rocket, marking its 100th launch from Sriharikota, with the NVS-02 satellite.

ISRO's 100th Launch: GSLV-F15 Lifts Off

ISRO achieves milestone with 100th launch; GSLV-F15 places NVS-02 in orbit

ISRO successfully launched the GSLV-F15 rocket, marking its 100th launch from Sriharikota, with the NVS-02 satellite.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marked a significant milestone with the successful launch of its GSLV-F15 rocket, carrying the NVS-02 satellite, at 6:23 AM from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;
This launch is ISRO&rsquo;s 100th from the country&rsquo;s spaceport. GSLV-F15 is the 17th flight of India&rsquo;s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 11th flight featuring the Indigenous Cryo stage.&nbsp;
This marks the 8th operational flight of GSLV with an indigenous Cryogenic stage, and its payload fairing is a metallic version with a 3.4-meter diameter.
&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/100thLaunch?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#100thLaunch&lt;/a&gt;:&lt;br&gt;Congratulations &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;@isro&lt;/a&gt; for achieving the landmark milestone of &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/100thLaunch?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#100thLaunch&lt;/a&gt; from &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sriharikota?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#Sriharikota&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;br&gt;It&rsquo;s a privilege to be associated with the Department of Space at the historic moment of this record feat.&lt;br&gt;Team &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#ISRO&lt;/a&gt;, you have once again made India proud with&hellip; &lt;a href="https://t.co/lZp1eV4mmL"&gt;pic.twitter.com/lZp1eV4mmL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/DrJitendraSingh/status/1884409343807730132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;January 29, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
ISRO stated that the GSLV-F15, equipped with the indigenous Cryogenic stage, is designed to place the NVS-02 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
A number of students had the rare chance to witness the historic launch from close to the launchpad, their excitement palpable as they experienced this momentous event.&nbsp;
Teerth, a student from Gujarat, shared his enthusiasm with ANI, saying, "I came from my college to witness the 100th launch, I am really excited. ISRO is not launching various foreign countries' satellites, so we are generating income from that also, so it is a really impressive step from the Indian government and ISRO."&nbsp;
Avinash, from Bihar, who was attending a launch for the first time, expressed his excitement, saying, "Really excited about it, we are here to witness the takeoff. All the best to the scientists and anyone else who have worked on this. We are really excited for this, this is the first time I get to witness this, we had been trying for four years to witness this and finally we got the chance."
On Tuesday, Nilesh Desai, Director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC)/ISRO, explained that the launch would enhance India's Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), increasing its satellites from 4 to 5.&nbsp;
Desai stated, "We are going to launch at 6:23 am this GSLV-F-15 mission which will carry the NVS-02 satellite into orbit. Finally, it will be put in the geostationary orbit at 36,000 kilometres and it will increase the number of satellites of our navigation constellation from 4 to 5 and that will improve the overall accuracy of the positioning which we get from this navigation satellite."
The IRNSS, now branded as the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), is a system comprising seven satellites in total. With this launch, India has successfully placed 5 out of these 7 satellites in space.&nbsp;
Desai added, "This is the 5th in the series of operational NavIC satellites. NavIC satellite is our earlier named IRNSS satellite configuration which is called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, it is a part of this satellite constellation where we will put seven satellites. Older satellites are getting replaced with a new series of satellites."
NavIC is India&rsquo;s independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide precise Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services for users in India and regions extending up to 1500 km beyond India&rsquo;s landmass.&nbsp;
The system offers two types of services: Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS). The SPS provides positioning accuracy better than 20 meters and timing accuracy better than 40 nanoseconds across the service area.

ISRO begins the 27-hour countdown for its 100th mission, launching the NVS-02 navigation satellite aboard the GSLV-F15 rocket. This milestone marks the first mission under ISRO Chairman V Narayanan.

ISRO begins 27-hour countdown for 100th mission to launch navigation satellite

ISRO begins the 27-hour countdown for its 100th mission, launching the NVS-02 navigation satellite aboard the GSLV-F15 rocket. This milestone marks the first mission under ISRO Chairman V Narayanan.

The 27-hour countdown for ISRO's historic 100th mission from this spaceport, launch of a Navigation satellite onboard a GSLV rocket commenced on Tuesday, sources in the space agency said. Also, this would be the first mission for ISRO Chairman V Narayanan, who assumed office on January 13.
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) with indigenous Cryogenic upper stage in its 17th flight, carrying the navigation satellite NVS-02 is scheduled for lift-off at 6.23 am on January 29 from the second launch pad here.
The navigation satellite is the second in the series of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) aimed to provide accurate position, velocity and timing to users in the Indian sub-continent as well as to regions about 1,500 km beyond the Indian land mass.
"The 27.30 hour countdown commenced at 02.53 am on Tuesday," multiple sources told PTI.
The 50.9 metre tall GSLV-F15 follows the GSLV-F12 mission which successfully carried navigation satellite NVS-01, the first of the second generation satellites on May 29, 2023.
NavIC comprises five second generation satellites--NVS-01/02/03/04/05 envisaged to augment NavIC base layer constellation with enhanced features for ensuring continuity of services.
The NVS-02 satellite designed and developed by the U R Satellite Centre weighs about 2,250 kg. It has navigation payload in L1, L5 and S bands in addition to ranging payload in C-band like its predecessor NVS-01.
The key applications the satellite would be used for are terrestrial, aerial and maritime navigation, precision agriculture, fleet management, location based services in mobile devices, orbit determination for satellites, Internet-of-Things (IoT) based applications, emergency and timing services, ISRO said.

The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of a Third Launch Pad at ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, aimed at supporting next-generation launch vehicles, backup for existing infrastructure.

Cabinet approves third launch pad at ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre

The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of a Third Launch Pad at ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, aimed at supporting next-generation launch vehicles, backup for existing infrastructure.

The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the establishment of a Third Launch Pad (TLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Thursday.
The TLP is designed to support the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) next-generation launch vehicles (NGLV) and serve as a backup to the existing second launch pad.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, "...With a cost of Rs 3985 Crores, third launch pad has been sanctioned by the cabinet today. This will prove to be an important milestone for the country in space infrastructure. If you look at the first and second launch&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/Mr5Cnw4D1j">pic.twitter.com/Mr5Cnw4D1j</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1879826155974590945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
It will also enhance India&rsquo;s space exploration capabilities, particularly in supporting future human spaceflight missions.
Featuring a versatile and adaptable design, the TLP will be able to accommodate various launch vehicles, including the NGLV, LVM3 with a semi-cryogenic stage, and upgraded NGLV configurations.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Union Cabinet approves the establishment of the Third Launch Pad (TLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre of ISRO at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at a cost of ₹3,985 cr which will prove to be an important milestone in the field of space infrastructure TLP significantly enhances&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/l3hnAnBrRv">pic.twitter.com/l3hnAnBrRv</a>
&mdash; PIB India (@PIB_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1879830615924838859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
The project will build on ISRO&rsquo;s prior experience in developing launch pads and involve significant collaboration with industry partners. Existing infrastructure at the launch complex will be optimized during the construction process.
The TLP project, with an estimated cost of Rs 3,984.86 crore, is set to be completed within 48 months.
This new facility will strengthen India&rsquo;s space ecosystem, enabling more frequent launches and advancing the country's capabilities in human spaceflight and space exploration missions. It is recognized as a project of national importance.
Currently, India's space transportation systems rely on two launch pads: the First Launch Pad (FLP) and the Second Launch Pad (SLP).
FLP, established 30 years ago, has supported PSLV and SSLV launches.
SLP, created primarily for GSLV and LVM3, has been operational for nearly 20 years, contributing to national missions like Chandrayaan-3 and commercial PSLV/LVM3 missions.
Additionally, SLP is being prepared for the human-rated LVM3 launch for the Gaganyaan mission.
With the expanded vision of India's space program during the Amrit Kaal, including the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035 and a planned Indian Crewed Lunar Landing by 2040, new, heavier launch vehicles with advanced propulsion systems are required.
These vehicles cannot be supported by the current launch pads. Therefore, establishing a Third Launch Pad is crucial to cater to the next-generation launch vehicles and act as a backup for SLP. This development is essential to meet the growing space transportation needs for the next 25 to 30 years.

ISRO has successfully completed its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), making India the fourth country to achieve satellite docking.

ISRO achieves historic satellite docking with SpaDeX mission

ISRO has successfully completed its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), making India the fourth country to achieve satellite docking. This milestone positions India for future space missions such as Chandrayaan-4 and the upcoming Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday successfully achieved satellite docking as part of its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX).
"Docking Success Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment" ISRO proudly announced on 'X'.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SpaDeX Docking Update: 🌟Docking Success Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment. Let&rsquo;s walk through the SpaDeX docking process: Manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point completed. Docking initiated with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture.&hellip;
&mdash; ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1879749119759311078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Earlier, on January 12, ISRO had conducted a preliminary test, bringing the two spacecraft to a distance of three meters before moving them apart to a safe distance for further analysis.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SpaDeX Docking Update: Post docking, control of two satellites as a single object is successful. Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in coming days. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SPADEX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SPADEX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRO</a>
&mdash; ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1879754403306967291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
A Historic Milestone for India
With this achievement, ISRO successfully docked two satellites in space under its SpaDeX mission, making India the fourth country, after the United States, Russia, and China, to demonstrate the ability to dock satellites.
Docking Completed After Delays
Although the docking process had been delayed earlier due to technical issues on January 7 and 9, ISRO was able to complete the docking on Thursday. The successful docking followed a trial on January 12, where the satellites were brought as close as 3 meters before safely moving apart for further assessment.
SpaDeX: A Key Technological Milestone
Launched on December 30 via PSLV, the SpaDeX mission involved two satellites, SDX01 (the Chaser) and SDX02 (the Target), each weighing 220 kg. The satellites were placed in low-Earth orbit, about 20 km apart, before gradually closing the gap for the final docking.
This docking experiment serves as a critical technological demonstration for future Indian missions, including:
<ul>
<li>Chandrayaan-4: A mission to return lunar samples to Earth, requiring a re-entry module to dock with a transfer module</li>
<li>Bharatiya Antariksh Station: India&rsquo;s proposed space station, set to launch in 2028 with modular components</li>
<li>Human Moon Mission: Set for 2040, which will require advanced docking technologies. </li>
</ul>
The successful docking took place during a pivotal moment for ISRO, as V. Narayanan took over as the new director of ISRO on January 14. Despite earlier challenges, ISRO&rsquo;s team showed remarkable resilience and technical expertise, ensuring the success of the mission.
This accomplishment represents a major step forward in India&rsquo;s space exploration ambitions, enabling future missions such as sample returns, space station assembly, and interplanetary exploration. With the successful completion of SpaDeX, ISRO continues to cement its position as a global leader in space technology.

V Narayanan has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Space Commission, succeeding S Somanath. 

V Narayanan appointed as new ISRO chairman

V Narayanan has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Space Commission, succeeding S Somanath.&nbsp;

Rocket scientist V Narayanan was on Tuesday appointed Secretary, Department of Space, succeeding S Somanath, who will complete his tenure next week.
"The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved appointment of Shri V. Narayanan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Valiamala as Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Space Commission for a period of two years with effect from 14.01.2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier," an official order said.
Secretary, Department of Space, also holds the charge of chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Somanath had assumed charge as the Secretary, Department of Space, on January 14, 2022 for a three-year term.
Narayanan, a distinguished Scientist at the ISRO, has nearly four decades of experience and has held various key positions within the Indian space organisation.
Narayanan's expertise lies in rocket and spacecraft propulsion. He was the Project Director for the C25 Cryogenic Project of the GSLV Mk Ill vehicle.
Under his leadership, the team successfully developed the C25 Stage, a vital component of GSLV Mk III.
Narayanan, who is a Rocket &amp; Space Craft Propulsion Expert, joined the ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities before becoming Director of the Centre.
During the initial phase, for four and a half years, he worked in the Solid Propulsion area of Sounding Rockets and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
In 1989, he completed M.Tech in Cryogenic Engineering with First Rank at IIT-Kharagpur and joined the Cryogenic Propulsion area in Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).

ISRO achieves a key milestone with the successful launch of SpaDeX spacecraft, advancing India's ambitions in space docking and interplanetary missions.

 ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission Marks Breakthrough in Space Docking Technology

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath said the rocket has placed the satellites in the right orbit of 475 km circular orbit, after over 15 minutes of flight.

Two spacecraft that would aid ISRO in demonstrating space docking, a critical technology for future space missions, got separated successfully and were placed into the desired orbit late Monday, the country&rsquo;s space agency said.
"PSLV C60 mission accomplished as a SpaDeX spacecraft is considered," said Mission Director M Jayakumar.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath said the rocket has placed the satellites in the right orbit of 475 km circular orbit, after over 15 minutes of flight.
"So, as far as we are concerned, the rocket has placed the spacecraft in the right orbit and the SpaDeX satellites have moved one behind the other, and over the period of time, it will pick up further distance, travel about 20 km away and then the rendezvous and docking process will start.
&ldquo;And we hope that the docking process can happen in another week and the nominal time is going to be approximately January 7," he said in his address from the Mission Control Centre.
In this mission, the very important part is the POEM-4 with 24 payloads from startups, industries, academia and also from ISRO centres, he said.
These are scheduled to be fired on Tuesday morning. Scientists would work through the night to ensure that the POEM-4 reaches the desired orbit level to perform the operation, Somanath said.
Later, talking to reporters at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Somanath said the PSLV-C60 mission placed the two SpaDeX satellites weighing 220kg in a circular orbit and 475 km as against the projected 470 km and this mission also has the POEM-4 which has 24 payloads to perform research and development.
"They are payloads and are not satellites. They are going to be attached to the fourth stage (of the PSLV rocket) for conducting experiments over the next two months. The upper stage of the PSLV rocket will be brought down to a lowered orbit to 350 km and that process is currently going on. After that, we will have many activities to continue," Somanath, also the Secretary, Department of Space, said.
On the Space Docking Experiment, he said the scientists would have many operations from December 31 at the ISTRAC Bengaluru and he expected that the docking condition 'possibly on January 7'.
&ldquo;So, we will be able to see that from the Control Centre, ISTRAC, Bengaluru. All those activities of docking, including telecasting of the onboard images from the camera of the docking processes,&rdquo; he said.
Somanath, flanked by SpaDeX Project Director N Surendran, Mission Director M Jayakumar and Directors of the various Centre said ISRO was &ldquo;very proud&rdquo; of this accomplishment and expressed hope that the SpaDeX mission's objective can be achieved in the coming days.
&ldquo;Really important mission for us, this you know, with the space sector reforms, and expansion of space activities. Then we have human space flight programmes, building space stations etc. This (Monday's) mission is so critical for us to work on future missions like the Chandrayaan-4, missions to the Moon as well,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;I believe this is not the first SpaDeX and there will be many more SpaDeX varieties including complex versions of docking systems in the coming days,&rdquo; he said.
Mission Director M Jayakumar said, &ldquo;Hearty congratulations to the team ISRO for venturing into the exciting domain of Space Docking and this Mission once again has POEM-4. We have 24 payloads, and some interesting experiments in POEM-4 like debris capture, and biological experiments are there.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We had two launches of the PSLV from the same launch pad that is the first launch pad in December. So, after the first launch (on December 5 for PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission), the Satish Dhawan Space Centre team was quick in raising to the occasion (for Monday's mission),&rdquo; he said.
Surendran said, &ldquo;I would like to congratulate the PSLV team for the successive successful launch of PSLV in a month, it is a record, we have also placed our twin babies in a perfectly circular orbit, as per our requirement.
&ldquo;I am happy to say that our solar panels are successfully deployed and the spacecraft are on their journey and holding their wings towards the docking and it is expected to happen around January first week,&rdquo; he said.
As you are aware the space sector is going through a phase to enable private players to meet the growing demands, as per the policy guidelines, SpaDeX was assembled and integrated here for the first time, he said.
Dubbed as a prelude to the ISRO setting up its own Space Station by 2035, the PSLV-C60 mission would also make India join an elite club in achieving this feat which is expected to take place in the coming days.
The 44.5-metre-tall rocket carried two spacecraft -- Spacecraft A and B, each weighing 220 kg which would help in space docking, satellite servicing and interplanetary missions.
After the culmination of the 25-hour countdown which commenced on Sunday, the rocket lifted off at 10 pm from the First Launch Pad at this spaceport, emanating thick orange-coloured fumes and thunderous sound in the island, located about 135 km east of Chennai.
According to ISRO scientists, the two spacecraft-Spacecraft A (SDX01) or the 'Chaser' and Spacecraft B (SDX02) or the 'Target' would be merged together later at an altitude of about 470 km after travelling at the same speed and distance.
By mastering the docking technologies, ISRO is set to enhance its operational flexibility and also expand its mission horizons.
This technology is essential for some of India's space ambitions like Indian on the Moon, getting samples from the Moon (Chandrayaan-4 mission), and building and operating the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
"In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology," ISRO said.
The others to achieve this technological feat are China, Russia and the US.

ISRO's Space Docking Experiment, a pioneering mission to develop India's in-space docking capabilities, has been rescheduled to launch at 10 PM. 

 ISRO set to launch crucial SpaDeX mission today

The process is expected to take place about 10-14 days after the scheduled lift-off on Monday, ISRO officials said.

ISRO's Space Docking Experiment onboard a PSLV rocket later on Monday has been rescheduled by two mins, the space agency said.
A key milestone in India's space programme, the mission will lift off at 10 pm on Monday instead of the originally planned 9.58 pm, ISRO said. However, there was no immediate information on the reason behind the rescheduling.
"Launch Day is here. Tonight at precisely 10 pm, PSLV-C60 with SpaDeX and innovative payloads are set for liftoff," ISRO said in an update on Monday.
"Space Docking Experiment is a pioneering mission to establish India's capability in orbital docking, a key technology for future human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions," the space agency added.
The 25 hour countdown which commenced on Sunday night at 9 pm was proceeding, an ISRO official said.
A cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for in-space docking, it would make India join an elite list featuring China, Russia and the US.
The mission will be launched from the first launch pad at this spaceport here and would carry SpaDeX with two spacecraft as the primary payloads along with 24 secondary payloads.
The in-space docking technology would be essential for taking up India's ambitions in space including sending humans to the Moon, bringing samples from there, and also building and operating the country's own space station- Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
The docking technology would also be utilised when multiple rocket launches are planned to achieve common mission objectives.
ISRO said the two spacecraft in the PSLV rocket-- Spacecraft A (SDX01) and Spacecraft B (SDX02) would be placed in an orbit that would keep them 5 km apart from each other. Later, scientists at ISRO headquarters would try to bring them closer up to 3 metres which would subsequently lead them for merging together at an altitude of about 470km above Earth.
The process is expected to take place about 10-14 days after the scheduled lift-off on Monday, ISRO officials said.
In the SpaDeX mission, Spacecraft A carries a High Resolution Camera, while Spacecraft B has Miniature Multispectral Payload and a Radiation Monitor Payload. These payloads would provide high resolution images, natural resource monitoring, vegetation studies among others.
Apart from this significant mission, scientists would also conduct the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4 (POEM-4) in which 24 payloads--14 from ISRO and 10 from industry and academia, would be placed in the desired orbits one after the other over a 90 minute period after the lift-off.
The life of the payloads in the fourth stage would be about three to four months. The vehicle for the PSLV-C60 mission used here would be the 18th Core-Alone variant.
This would be ISRO's last mission in 2024 and the PSLV-C60 is the first vehicle to be integrated up to the fourth stage at the PSLV Integration Facility that has been established in Sriharikota.

The ad was reportedly issued by Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister Anita Radhakrishnan in her personal capacity.

China flag on Tamil Nadu minister's ISRO ad, PM Modi mocks DMK

The ad was reportedly issued by Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister Anita Radhakrishnan in her personal capacity.

The Tamil Nadu government found itself in an awkward position after an advertisement taken out by one of its ministers to highlight a new ISRO space station in the state showed the Chinese flag on a rocket.&nbsp;
BJP's state chief K Annamalai said that the ad showed the ruling DMK's committment to China.&nbsp;
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too trained his guns on the DMK while addressing a public event in Tirunelveli.&nbsp;
'DMK does not do any work, but takes false credit. They put their sticker on our schemes. To take credit for a new ISRO launchpad, they have pasted a Chinese flag symbol. They are not ready to see the development of India. They are not ready to see the development of India's space sector,' he said.&nbsp;
The ad was reportedly issued by State Fisheries Minister Anita Radhakrishnan in her personal capacity. The poster was aimed at highlighting the efforts of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi and current chief minister MK Stalin to make the new ISRO launchpad at Kulasekarapattinam a reality.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

INSAT-3DS to help provide improved weather forecasts and meteorological services.

India successfully launches meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS 

INSAT-3DS to help provide improved weather forecasts and meteorological services.

&nbsp;Moving ahead on its mission to study the Earth and ocean surfaces, ISRO on Saturday successfully launched its next generation weather observation satellite INSAT-3DS onboard a GSLV rocket into a precise orbit.
The flawless mission prompted the ISRO to virtually heave a sigh of relief over the challenging GSLV rocket technology, as the director of today's mission said the "naughty boy has matured into an obedient, disciplined boy," apparently referring to its past unsuccessful missions.
ISRO Chairman S Somanath said the success gave the space agency "greater confidence," as the GSLV will be next deployed in the NISAR mission, a collaborative effort with the US' NASA.
The INSAT-3DS satellite, weighing 2274 kg is a follow-on mission of the third generation meteorological satellite to be placed in a geostationary orbit and is funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The objective of the mission is to provide continuity of services to existing operational INSAT-3D (launched in 2013) and INSAT-3DR (September 2016) for enhanced meteorological observations, monitoring of land and ocean surfaces, weather forecast and disaster warning, as well as to provide satellite aided Search and Rescue Services (SAR) among others.
At the end of the 27.5 hour countdown, the nearly 52 metre tall GSLV-F14 lifted-off majestically from the second launch pad at this spaceport, at a pre-fixed time of 5.35 pm.
The three stage rocket with a cryogenic upper stage, after a flight of about 20 minutes, got separated from the vehicle as planned and placed the satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
Later, scientists at ISRO would undertake a series of manoeuvres to place the satellite into the Geo-stationary orbit in the coming days.
The rocket carries imager and sounder payloads, data relay transponders, satellite aided SAR transponders which would be used to study cloud properties, fog, rainfall, snow cover and depth, fire, smoke, land and ocean among others.
The imager and sounder payloads incorporated in today's mission are similar to those carried by INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR, with significant improvements in radiometric performances, the space agency said.
INSAT stands for Indian National Satellite System.
Somanath, also Secretary, Department of Space announced the successful accomplishment of the mission.
"The spacecraft has been injected into a very good orbit. The injection conditions were as expected and the vehicle has performed very very well...INSAT-3DS is the next generation weather satellite with improved capability over the existing INSAT series. This will augment the capability of observation of various atmospheric parameters that leads to information related to weather and climate," he said from the Mission Control Center.
Mission Director Tomy Joseph, referring to the GSLV said, "the naughty boy has matured as a very obedient and disciplined boy." "Like PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), GSLV has also become a robust vehicle for ISRO," he said, with his remarks prompting cheers and applause.
Somanath added that with today's mission, ISRO's confidence on GSLV was "further high." "As all of you know, the next mission of the GSLV is going to be the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite and this gives greater confidence," for the next mission, he said.
According to ISRO, NISAR is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory being jointly developed by NASA and the Indian space agency. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days and provide spatially and temporally consistent data for understanding changes in Earth&rsquo;s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise, ground water and natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides.
Imteyaz Ahamed, Satellite Director of Saturday's mission said the payloads of INSAT-3DS have been significantly enhanced and the enhancements are in terms of configuration, content and capability resulting in increased imaging throughput.
The satellite was on its way to the destination, with the solar panels having been deployed. A series of orbit raising manoeuvres will be performed in the next few days followed by in orbit testing and commissioning of the spacecraft, Ahamed added.
Various departments of Ministry of Earth Sciences such as India Meteorological Department, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services and various agencies and institutes would benefit from the data provided by INSAT-3DS to provide improved weather forecasts and meteorological services, ISRO said.
The life of the INSAT-3DS mission is expected to be around 10 years.&nbsp;

PM Modi said it is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising among the most complex and intricate space missions.

ISRO successfully puts Aditya-L1 spacecraft in destination orbit, PM Modi hails feat

PM Modi said it is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising among the most complex and intricate space missions.

ISRO on Saturday successfully placed Adiyta-L1, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun, into its destination orbit Lagrange Point-1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement on ISRO's latest feat.
"India creates yet another landmark. India&rsquo;s first solar observatory Aditya-L1 reaches its destination. It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising among the most complex and intricate space missions." "I join the nation in applauding this extraordinary feat. We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity," he said in a post on micro-blogging site 'X.' The Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system is about 1.5 million km from the Earth. It is about one per cent of the total distance between the Earth and the Sun.
A satellite in a halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultations/ eclipses, ISRO officials said, adding, this will provide a greater advantage in observing solar activities and their effect on space weather in real time.
A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57) launched the Aditya-L1 spacecraft from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, on September 2, 2023.
After a flight duration of 63 minutes and 20 seconds, it was successfully injected into an elliptical orbit of 235x19500 km around the Earth then.
The spacecraft underwent a series of maneuvers thereafter and headed Sun-Earth L1, having escaped the Earth's sphere of influence.
The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle and magnetic field detectors.
"Using the special vantage point L1, four payloads directly view the Sun and the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1, thus providing important scientific studies of the propagatory effect of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium," according to the space agency.&nbsp;

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