ISRO Chairman S Somanath has declared India’s commitment to ongoing lunar missions until an Indian astronaut achieves a historic landing on the Moon’s surface. Speaking at an event in Ahmedabad hosted by the Astronautical Society of India, Somanath emphasized ISRO’s dedication to advancing space exploration.
In August 2023, ISRO achieved a significant milestone with the successful soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the Moon’s south pole, positioning India as the first country to accomplish this feat.
Somanath highlighted Chandrayaan-3’s success in data collection and scientific research, signaling ISRO’s intent to extend the Chandrayaan series until Indian land on the Moon. He stressed the necessity of mastering crucial technologies for lunar missions, such as safe travel to and from the Moon.
Regarding the Gaganyaan project, Somanath outlined ISRO’s upcoming milestones, including an uncrewed mission, a test vehicle flight, and an airdrop test scheduled for 2024. The objective of the Gaganyaan mission is to showcase India’s ability to conduct human spaceflight by sending a crew of three members into orbit for a three-day mission.
Somanath also emphasized ISRO’s recent breakthrough in rocket engine technology, achieved through the development of a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle. This achievement, spearheaded by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, is poised to improve crucial rocket engine metrics such as thrust levels and payload capacity, marking a significant advancement in India’s space exploration capabilities.
The development of the C-C nozzle is expected to significantly improve the performance of launch vehicles like the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), enhancing India’s capabilities in space exploration and satellite deployment.
ISRO’s ambitious endeavors underscore India’s growing prominence in the global space sector and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration and technological innovation.
