By launching a Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite as well as 18 co-passenger satellites into orbits successfully in a predetermined sequence on 8th February 2021, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) added one more feather on it’s cap. ISRO used PSLV-C51 launch vehicle for launching these satellites.
Pixxel India’s Anand Satellite:-
Along with the same, Bengaluru-based start-up called Pixxel India supposed to be lifted off their earth-imaging satellite called Anand. But due to certain software problems, they could not give final clearance to go ahead with the launching of their satellite. They are now re-evaluating the satellite software, and test the same rigorously over the next few weeks and launch the same without any delay.
The main advantage of Anand satellite is to monitor each and every part of the globe continuously and beam high-resolution images as well as other datas that can be used for a variety of applications related to climate change, agriculture, and urban planning.
Once it is launched successfully, that would mark the beginning of a new age of private companies becoming partners in India’s space sector.
Out of 18 other satellites, three satellites called UNITYsat developed jointly by the students of Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperumbudur, GH Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur, and Sri Shakhti Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore.
Apart from the same, the on board nano satellite was developed by Space Kidz India, that is capable of studying the space’s weather and demonstrate long-range communication technologies.
If everything goes well as per the future planning of Pixxel India, then Pixxel India will definitely put India on the global space map as U.S. companies such as SpaceX or Planet Labs, etc in future.
On 17.12.2020, ISRO launched a CMS-01 Communication Satellite from Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. CMS-01 Satellite was a 42nd communication satellite of India. It was designed and developed by ISRO and It’s estimated mission life is more than seven years. ISRO utilized PSLV-C50 for launching this satellite and this satellite was a replacement of aging GSAT-12 at 83°E slot.
CMS-01 Communication Satellite has already enhanced country’s communication network system such as e-learning, tele-medicine, disaster management services etc. This Satellite is also provides services in Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum in Indian mainland, Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is now one of the finest space exploration agencies in the world. It was formed in 1969 in the intention of developing and utilizing space technology for the growth and development of the country. ISRO has a glorious history of achievements and it’s achievement are immensely helping India to dominate in the World Space Technological sector.
CMS-01 was the second Satellite launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in India in 2020. On 7th Nov 2020, ISRO launched a Radar Imaging Satellite (EOS-01) that is now working together with the existing RISAT-2B and RISAT-2BR1.
On 17 January 2020, ISRO sent another satellite called GSAT-30 by utilizing Aranianspace’s Ariane-5ECA+ Satellite Launching vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana in January 2020. GSAT-30 was basically an operational communication satellite for DTH, television uplink and VSAT services and the same was specifically designed and optimized for maximizing the number of transponders on the spacecraft bus.
ISRO’s planned big ticket Solar Missions and the Gaganyaan project’s preoperational unmanned flight programs has already been delayed due to the ongoing Covid 19 Pandemic and the same will be materialized in 2021 if everything goes well as planned by ISRO.
ISRO broken Russia’s Dnepr rocket’s record:-
On 15th February 2017, ISRO has created a new world record by sending 104 Satellites altogether by utilizing PSLV-C37 Launch Vehicle. Out of 104 Satellites, three were from India, 88 were from U.S.A, and the remaining were from Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland as well as United Arab Emirates.
Earlier this world record was held by Russia’s Dnepr rocket that has launched 37 satellites together into space. But ISRO has created miracle by sending 104 satellites altogether and broken Russia’s earlier world record.
U.S. SpaceX broken ISRO’s Record:-
On 24th Janaury 2021 United States “SpaceX created another record by launching most number of satellites on a single rocket. Their first small sat rideshare mission called Transporter-1 successfully launched 143 spacecraft into orbit. This has broken the earlier record held by Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) PSLV-C37 launch of 104 satellites in February 2017.
Comparing with other countries in the world, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been spending much lesser money for designing, developing and sending satellite into Orbit.
Chandrayan-2 Mission:-
For the entire second Lunar exploration mission (Chandrayaan-2 mission), ISRO spent only Rs 978 crores. Out of Rs 978 crores, Rs 603 crores they spent for the mission and Rs 375 crores spent for launching the Satellite. If we convert this 978 crores into dollars, it is equivalent to 142 million dollars. This cost amount is lesser than the production cost of Titanic Hollywood movie. Total production cost of Titanic Movie was approximately 150 million dollars.
ISRO’s Mangalayan Mission:-
On 5th November 2013, ISRO launched it’s first interplanetary mission dubbed Mangalyaan probe (officially called the Mars Orbiter Mission) carrying five instruments to study the aspects of the red planet as well as it’s mineral composition to potential signs of past life. It was launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C25). Just after it’s 298 days marathon journey, Mangalayan probe successfully reached at Mars on 24th September 2014.
The total cost of this Mangalayan project was approximately 73 million dollars and its first inter planetary mission’s (Mars Orbiter Mission) attempt was highly successful. Whereas, U.S. based NASA has spent approximately 672 millions dollars for a similar mars mission by utilizing NASA’s Maven Mars Orbiter. It means that the NASA has spent 8 times more than what ISRO spent for the Mars mission.
Considering ISRO’s continuous success in designing, develping and launching various satellites for different purposes, now a days ISRO has an edge over it’s global competitors regarding Satellites safety and consistency.
ISRO’s Aditya L1 Mission:-
ISRO is now planning and preparing to launch Aditya L1 in January 2022. This spacecraft mission is basically meant for studying the Sun’s corona, solar emissions, solar winds and flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CME’s), and this spacecraft will carry out round-the-clock imaging of the Sun. ISRO scientists are now busy in designing and developing this spacecraft with the support of various Indian Research Institutes. ISRO will utilize Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV XL) to send this Spacecraft.
ISRO’s Mars and Venus Mission:-
Simultaneously ISRO has a mission to Mars and Venus in between 2021 – 2022 time frame. France has already expressed keen interest in collaborating with ISRO for building the next Mars Rover for India’s Mars Mission.
ISRO’s Shukrayan Orbiter Mission:-
At the same time, ISRO has already planned to launch a new orbiter to Venus in 2024 and they will send “Shukrayaan Orbiter” to Venus to study the planet for four years.
ISRO’s Gaganyaan Mission:-
ISRO is now rigorously working for succeeding India’s first manned space mission called Gaganyaan. ISRO has already selected four astronauts for this mission and their training program will be started in the near future. Out of four Astronauts, they will select three astronauts as a crew for this Gaganyaan mission to space for a period of five to seven days.
Even though The Vikram Lander successfully glided from a height of 30 kilometers to 5 kilometers, India’s ambitious lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 failed due to the software glitch of Vikram Lander at the last moment and it has crash landed at the Moon’s surface. ISRO is now planning to carry forward another soft landing attempt on the lunar surface with Chandryaan-3 in 2021.
Conclusion:-
Predecessors of ISRO Scientists and it’s present scientists have immensely contributed for ISRO’s great success. It’s accuracy, efficiency and it’s cost effective and low budget missions will definitely help ISRO to dominate in the world Space Technology sector in future.
