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ISRO gets ready for one of its busiest times in recent memory, lines up seven launches
The first mission in this series is expected as early as next week, signalling a tightly packed launch calendar with both strategic and commercial goals. At the heart of the schedule is India's heaviest rocket, the LVM3. Under a commercial agreement handled by New Space India Limited (NSIL), the LVM3 will place the Bluebird-6 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile into orbit.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in preparation for one of its busiest periods in recent years, has lined up seven launch missions by March next year, including a key test of indigenous electric propulsion and quantum communication systems, and the first uncrewed flight of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, news agency PTI reported on December 14.
The first mission in this series is expected as early as next week, signalling a tightly packed launch calendar with both strategic and commercial goals.
At the heart of the schedule is India's heaviest rocket, the LVM3. Under a commercial agreement handled by New Space India Limited (NSIL), the LVM3 will place the Bluebird-6 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile into orbit. Union minister Jitendra Singh recently informed Parliament that this mission marks another step in ISRO's expanding role as a launch service provider in the global market.
The LVM3 will also play a central role in India's human spaceflight ambitions. Early next year, the human-rated rocket will carry the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, with a humanoid robot named Vyommitra onboard the crew module. This mission is designed to test the full sequence of a human spaceflight, from launch to recovery.
According to Singh, the flight will demonstrate end-to-end mission capabilities. These include aerodynamic characterisation of the human-rated launch vehicle, mission operations of the orbital module, and the re-entry and recovery of the crew module. One more uncrewed Gaganyaan mission is planned later next year, ahead of India's goal of sending astronauts into low Earth orbit in 2027.
Alongside human spaceflight, ISRO's launch plan reflects a clear shift towards greater industry participation. Next year will see the launch of India's first industry-built Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. This PSLV will place the Oceansat satellite into orbit and will also carry two additional payloads: the Indo-Mauritius Joint Satellite and the LEAP-2 satellite developed by Dhruva Space.
This development follows a technology transfer agreement signed in September, under which NSIL awarded a contract to a consortium led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Larsen & Toubro to manufacture five PSLV rockets. The move is aimed at increasing the frequency of commercial launches and reducing pressure on ISRO's in-house production lines.
ISRO will, however, continue to use its own PSLVs for several critical missions. One such rocket will launch an earth observation satellite, EOS-N1, for a strategic user, along with 18 smaller satellites from Indian and international customers. Another mission, using the GSLV-Mk II, is expected to place EOS-5, also known as GISAT-1A, into orbit. This satellite will replace GISAT-1, which failed to reach its intended orbit in 2021.
A significant technological milestone in the upcoming schedule is the PSLV63 mission, which will carry the TDS-01 satellite. This mission is intended to demonstrate advanced technologies, including a high-thrust electric propulsion system, quantum key distribution, and an indigenous travelling wave tube amplifier.
The high-thrust electric propulsion system is particularly important for ISRO's future satellite designs. Once proven, it will allow the agency to launch fully electric satellites, reducing reliance on chemical fuels. Singh told Parliament that the technologies tested on TDS-01 will be used in navigation and communication missions in the near future.
The implications are substantial, PTI's report said. A conventional four-tonne communication satellite typically carries more than two tonnes of liquid fuel to power thrusters for manoeuvring in space. With electric propulsion, fuel requirements drop sharply to about 200 kg, according to an ISRO official. As a result, an electric propulsion-based satellite would weigh under two tonnes while delivering the same performance as a four-tonne satellite.
This reduction in mass can lower launch costs and allow more flexible mission planning. It also aligns with ISRO's broader aim of improving efficiency without compromising capability.
The TDS-01 mission will also test an indigenous travelling wave tube amplifier, a critical component of satellite transponders. Success here would strengthen India's self-reliance in satellite communication technologies, an area with both civilian and strategic importance.
Completing the line-up is the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle. ISRO plans to launch a dedicated satellite using the SSLV before March 2026, adding another option to its launch portfolio, particularly for smaller payloads, PTI reported.
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Source: EconomicTimes
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