Excelsior Correspondent
BENGALURU, Jan 9: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, alongside his roles as Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, chaired a high-level review today focusing on ISRO’s significant space missions slated for 2025. He was joined by outgoing Chairman Dr. S. Somnath, newly appointed Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, and senior officials, including Pawan Kumar Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe.
With ambitious projects on the horizon, such as the first “uncrewed” orbital flight ahead of “Gaganyaan,” India’s space exploration initiatives are set for remarkable milestones.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for a busy start to 2025, featuring a series of important missions that highlight technological capabilities and international partnerships. Among these missions is the uncrewed orbital test of Gaganyaan, a pivotal step in validating systems essential for crew safety and recovery for India’s human spaceflight program.
Additionally, there are two GSLV missions, a commercial launch of LVM3, and the highly-anticipated ISRO-NASA collaboration on the NISAR satellite planned for the near future. In January, the GSLV-F15 mission will launch the NVS-02 navigation satellite, enhancing the NavIC constellation to improve India’s positioning and navigation capabilities with indigenous atomic clocks.
Then, in February, the GSLV-F16 mission will deploy NISAR, an advanced Earth observation satellite jointly developed with NASA. NISAR, equipped with cutting-edge radar imaging technology, will deliver vital information regarding agriculture, natural disasters, and climate change.
The commercial LVM3-M5 mission, scheduled for March, will place BlueBird Block-2 satellites into orbit under a contract with AST SpaceMobile, a U.S.-based company, reflecting ISRO’s expanding influence in the international space market.
Dr. Jitendra Singh praised ISRO’s achievements in promoting innovation and enhancing India’s stature as a space-faring nation. He highlighted the significance of public-private cooperation in driving the country’s space aspirations. Dr. S. Somnath shared reflections from his tenure, expressing optimism for the upcoming missions, while Dr. V. Narayanan presented a strategic plan aimed at amplifying ISRO’s global presence.
As India gears up to add another chapter to its space exploration journey, the success of these missions will not only boost technological advancements but also solidify the nation’s reputation as a leader in space science. For the millions observing these updates, 2025 is poised to be a monumental year for ISRO and Indian science.
