In case you were wondering, we’re here to tell you that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has had an eventful year in 2024, where it continued to push the boundaries of space exploration and technology – not just for India but for humankind as a whole.
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From launching international satellites to advancing reusable spacecraft technology and gearing up for its first manned mission, ISRO has firmly established itself as a key player in the global space race. Here are the top five milestones that made India proud in 2024.
On December 5, 2024, ISRO reached a historic milestone with the launch of the PSLV-C59 vehicle, which carried the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission. The launch, which took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, successfully placed the satellite into its designated highly-elliptical orbit.
The Proba-3 mission, which aims to study the Sun’s outer corona, further solidified ISRO’s growing reputation for executing complex international space missions. By the way, this wasn’t ISRO’s first collaboration with ESA, as ISRO had previously launched the Proba-1 mission in 2001 and Proba-2 in 2009, making the successful launch of Proba-3 a testament to ISRO’s expanding role in global space cooperation.
Year 2024 saw ISRO making significant strides in developing reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology, which has the potential to revolutionize space travel. In March 2024, ISRO successfully tested the Pushpak RLV during the RLV LEX-02 experiment. The RLV autonomously landed on a runway at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka, marking a critical step in ISRO’s efforts to reduce the cost of space missions by reusing spacecraft. The success of this test was a follow-up to the two previous successful tests and showcased the agency’s ability to master cutting-edge space technology.
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Later in the year, in June 2024, ISRO achieved yet another breakthrough with the successful RLV LEX-03 test, which demonstrated the agency’s advancing capabilities in navigation technology, control systems, and landing gear, further advancing ISRO’s expertise in the field of reusable spacecraft technology.
In February 2024, PM Narendra Modi made a highly anticipated announcement by revealing the names of the astronauts who will be part of India’s first manned mission, Gaganyaan. The astronauts – Group Captain Prashant Balakrishna Nair, Ajith Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Subhranshu Shukla – are currently undergoing rigorous training to prepare for the challenges of space travel.
Group Captain Subhranshu Shukla and Group Captain Prashant Nair, who are part of the primary and backup crew, respectively, completed their initial space training in the United States by August 2024. While the Gaganyaan mission is set to launch by the end of 2026, this announcement marks a defining moment in India’s journey to become one of the few countries capable of sending humans to space.
India’s successful Chandrayaan-3 mission made headlines in 2024 after winning the prestigious World Space Award from the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in October 2024. The award was presented at the 75th International Astronautical Conference in Milan, Italy, in recognition of the successful landing of India’s spacecraft on the Moon’s southern pole on August 20, 2023.
This achievement, which marked a significant step for ISRO in lunar exploration, continues to inspire pride across India and Indians everywhere in the world. ISRO’s Chief, S. Somanath, accepted the award, further underlining the global acknowledgment of India’s growing capabilities in frontier space exploration.
In November 2024, ISRO achieved another significant milestone by launching India’s first Analog Space Mission in Leh. Designed to simulate the conditions of space on Earth, this mission allowed astronauts to familiarise themselves with the psychological and physical challenges they will face during space missions. The decision to conduct this mission in Leh, with its terrain resembling the surfaces of the Moon or Mars, brought global attention to ISRO’s efforts to prepare its astronauts for long-duration space exploration. This mission represents a major step in ISRO’s preparation for future interplanetary missions.
The year 2024 has undoubtedly been a remarkable one for ISRO, with several milestones that not only made India proud but also positioned the country as a leader in space exploration.With even more groundbreaking initiatives on the horizon, ISRO’s future is bright, and India is poised to achieve even greater feats in space.
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