Indian Space Mission (PDF)

# Indian Space Mission ## Planetary Geosciences Lecture **Compiled By** Dr. Sneha Raghuvanshi Assistant Professor Department of Geology University of Lucknow ## Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) - The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was officially established on August 15, 1969...

# Indian Space Mission ## Planetary Geosciences Lecture **Compiled By** Dr. Sneha Raghuvanshi Assistant Professor Department of Geology University of Lucknow ## Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) - The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was officially established on August 15, 1969, under the visionary leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often regarded as the father of the Indian space program. - The formation of ISRO marked the beginning of India's ambitious journey into space, driven by the need to harness space technology for national development and scientific advancement. - From its humble beginnings, ISRO has evolved into a formidable force in global space exploration, known for its innovative approaches and cost-effective missions. ## 1. Aryabhata (1975) - Aryabhata, India's first satellite, was launched on April 19, 1975, from the Soviet Union's Kapustin Yar using a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle. - This 360-kilogram satellite was primarily designed for conducting scientific experiments in astronomy, solar physics, and X-ray aeronomy. - Although Aryabhata faced technical issues shortly after reaching orbit, leading to the loss of onboard telemetry data, it was a critical achievement for ISRO. - The mission marked the beginning of India's foray into space, providing valuable lessons in satellite design, fabrication, and operation, which paved the way for future missions. ## 2. SLV-3 (1980) - Launched on July 18, 1980, the Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV-3) was India's first indigenous satellite launch vehicle. - This mission successfully placed the Rohini satellite into orbit, marking a historic milestone as India's first homegrown satellite launch. - The success of SLV-3 not only demonstrated India's capability to design and build its own launch vehicles but also laid the foundation for the development of more advanced launch systems, propelling India into the global arena of space exploration. - This mission was a turning point that transformed ISRO into a key player in the global space community. ## 3. Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission) (2013) - Mangalyaan, also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), marked a historic milestone in India's space exploration journey. - Launched on November 5, 2013, Mangalyaan made India the first country to reach Mars orbit on its first attempt, a feat only achieved by ISRO. - The mission was also notable for its cost-effectiveness, with a budget of approximately $74 million, making it one of the least expensive Mars missions ever undertaken. - Mangalyaan's primary objective was to develop the technologies required for interplanetary missions. It carried five scientific instruments to study the Martian surface, morphology, atmosphere, and mineralogy from orbit. - Among its key contributions was the study of the Martian atmosphere and the discovery of dust storms on the planet, which provided valuable insights into Mars' climate and potential for future exploration. - The mission also highlighted ISRO's ability to execute complex space missions with remarkable efficiency, earning global acclaim. - Mangalyaan continues to be a source of inspiration, demonstrating India's growing capabilities in space technology and exploration, and solidifying ISRO's reputation as a leading space agency on the world stage. ## 4. Chandrayaan Missions (2008, 2019 and 2023) - India's Chandrayaan missions have significantly advanced lunar exploration, starting with Chandrayaan-1, launched on October 22, 2008. - Chandrayaan-2, launched on July 22, 2019, aimed to explore the Moon's south pole. - Building on these experiences, Chandrayaan-3, aimed to achieve a successful soft landing, further enhancing India's contributions to lunar science. ## Chandrayaan Mission I (2008) - Launched on October 22, 2008, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota using a PSLV-XL rocket, Chandrayaan-1 was India's first mission to the Moon. - This pioneering mission carried 11 scientific instruments from various international space agencies, including NASA, ESA, and Bulgaria, to conduct an extensive exploration of the lunar surface. - The mission's most groundbreaking discovery was the detection of water molecules on the Moon, particularly in the permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles. - This finding revolutionized lunar science by challenging the prevailing belief that the Moon was completely dry, opening up new avenues for future exploration and the potential for human habitation on the Moon. ## Chandrayaan Mission 2 (2019) - Building on the success of its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2 was launched on July 22, 2019, also from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre using a GSLV Mk III rocket. - This mission aimed to further explore the lunar surface, particularly the unexplored south pole region. - Chandrayaan-2 consisted of an orbiter, a lander (Vikram), and a rover (Pragyan). - While the lander experienced a setback during its descent, the orbiter provided valuable data, including high-resolution images and insights into the Moon's exosphere. - The mission has been pivotal in advancing India's technological capabilities and deepening our understanding of the lunar environment. ## Chandrayaan Mission (2023) - Launched on July 14, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 marked ISRO's renewed efforts to achieve a successful soft landing on the Moon, specifically targeting the lunar south pole. - This mission, which was designed to be a follow-up to Chandrayaan-2, included a lander and a rover, but no orbiter. - On August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed near the Moon's south pole, making India the first country to achieve a soft landing in this challenging region. - This mission is a significant milestone in ISRO's lunar exploration program, further demonstrating India's growing expertise in space exploration and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery. ## 5. Aditya-L1 (2023) - Aditya-L1, India's first dedicated solar mission, was launched on September 2, 2023, to study the Sun's outermost layers, including the corona and chromosphere. - The mission is significant for ISRO as it aims to enhance our understanding of solar activities and their impact on space weather, contributing to global research on solar phenomena and its effects on Earth. - This mission underscores India's growing role in space science and its commitment to exploring and understanding our solar system. ## 6. Gaganyaan **The Shape of ISRO's Human Spaceflight Ambitions** - The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released design illustrations of the capsule and rocket it plans to develop for the nation's first independent manned orbital spaceflight, currently scheduled for 2015. - The capsule is designed to accommodate three people, but the initial spaceflight will carry a two-astronaut crew. - The rocket will be a variant of ISRO's planned Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark 2, featuring safety and reliability enhancements for crew-launching missions. **Gaganyaan** - Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3 days mission and bring them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters. - The project is accomplished through an optimal strategy by considering inhouse expertise, experience of Indian industry, intellectual capabilities of Indian academia & research institutions along with cutting edge technologies available with international agencies. - The pre-requisites for Gaganyaan mission include development of many critical technologies including human rated launch vehicle for carrying crew safely to space, Life Support System to provide an earth like environment to crew in space, crew emergency escape provision and evolving crew management aspects for training, recovery and rehabilitation of crew. ## Gaganyaan - Various precursor missions are planned for demonstrating the Technology Preparedness Levels before carrying out the actual Human Space Flight mission. These demonstrator missions include Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT), Pad Abort Test (PAT) and Test Vehicle (TV) flights. Safety and reliability of all systems will be proven in unmanned missions preceding manned mission. - Human rated LVM3 - HLVM3 - LVM3 rocket - The well proven and reliable heavy lift launcher of ISRO, is identified as the launch vehicle for Gaganyaan mission. It consists of solid stage, liquid stage and cryogenic stage. - All systems in LVM3 launch vehicle are re-configured to meet human rating requirements and christened Human Rated LVM3. - HLVM3 will be capable of launching the Orbital Module to an intended Low Earth Orbit of 400 km. - HLVM3 consists of Crew Escape System (CES) powered by a set of quick acting, high burn rate solid motors which ensures that Crew Module along with crew is taken to a safe distance in case of any emergency either at launch pad or during ascent phase. ## 8. Shukrayaan I - Shukrayaan I will be an Orbiter Mission. Its scientific payloads currently include a high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and a ground-penetrating radar. - SAR would examine Venus' surface, despite the clouds around the planet, which lowers visibility. - It refers to a technique for producing high-resolution images. Because of the precision, the radar can penetrate clouds and darkness, which means that it can collect data day and night in any weather. - The mission is expected to study Venus's geological and volcanic activity, emissions on the ground, wind speed, cloud cover, and other planetary characteristics from an elliptical orbit. - Shukrayaan-I will be launched on either GSLV Mk II or GSLV Mk III, the latter allows more instruments or fuel to be carried, according to ISRO. ## Shukrayaan I **Objectives** - Investigation of surface process and shallow subsurface stratigraphy. Until now, no prior observation of the sub-surface of Venus has been done. - Stratigraphy is a branch of geology in which rock layers and layering are studied. - Study of the structure, composition and dynamics of the atmosphere. - Investigation of Solar wind interaction with Venusian ionosphere. **Significance** - It will help to learn how Earth-like planets evolve and what conditions exist on Earth-sized exoplanets (Planets that orbit a star other than our sun). - It will help in modelling Earth's climate and serves as a cautionary tale on how dramatically a planet's climate can change. ## References - https://www.isro.gov.in - Union Cabinet Approves India's Mission to Venus, and Sample Return from the Moon - https://www.sac.gov.in/ - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) | History, Structure, Facilities, & Facts | Britannica - https://sansad.in