Major events

1957: First artificial satellite Russian Sputnik 1 launched.

1958: Explorer 1, first US satellite launched.

1962: Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) formed by the Department of Atomic Energy under the

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SPACE-TECHNOLOGY
leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai

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1969: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) formed under Department of Atomic Energy.

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1972: Department of Space (DoS) established and ISRO brought under it.

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1975: First Indian satellite, Aryabhata, launched into space April 19. It was completely designed in the country and

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launched from a Russian facility.

1979: Bhaskara-I, an experimental remote sensing satellite for earth observations, launched from Russia into LEO.

1993: PSLV carried out its first mission, became the Indian space mission’s most reliable workhorse.

For the next 20 years, it launched various satellites for historic missions such as the Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan. PSLV
remains a favourite among various organizations as a launch service provider.

How Do Objects Stay in Orbit?

An object in motion will stay in motion unless something pushes or pulls on it. This Geo synchronous (GSO) / Geo stationary orbit (GEO)
statement is called Newton's first law of motion. Without gravity, an Earth-orbiting
satellite would go off into space along a straight line. With gravity, it is pulled back
• Satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) circle Earth above the equator
toward Earth. A constant tug-of-war takes place between the satellite's tendency to
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move in a straight line, or momentum, and the tug of gravity pulling the satellite
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from west to east following Earth’s rotation – taking 23 hours 56
minutes and 4 seconds – by travelling at exactly the same rate as Earth.
back.

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An object's momentum and the force of gravity have to be balanced for an orbit to
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• This makes satellites in GEO appear to be ‘stationary’ over a fixed

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happen. If the forward momentum of one object is too great, it will speed past and
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position.

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• If such orbit circles exactly above the equator, it is called

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not enter into orbit. If momentum is too small, the object will be pulled down and
crash. When these forces are balanced, the object is always falling toward the Geostationary and if it is inclined, it is called Geosynchronous.
planet, but because it's moving sideways fast enough, it never hits the planet. • In order to perfectly match Earth’s rotation, the speed of GEO satellites
Orbital velocity is the speed needed to stay in orbit. At an altitude of 150 miles (242 should be about 3 km per second at an altitude of 35 786 km.
kilometers) above Earth, orbital velocity is about 17,000 miles per hour. Satellites • This is much farther from Earth’s surface compared to many satellites.
that have higher orbits have slower orbital velocities.
• GEO is used by satellites that need to stay constantly above
one particular place over Earth, such as telecommunication
satellites. This way, an antenna on Earth can be fixed to always

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stay pointed towards that satellite without moving.
• Also used for India’s navigation satellites. D U
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• It can also be used by weather monitoring satellites, because
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they can continually observe specific areas to see how weather
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trends emerge there.
• Satellites in GEO cover a large range of Earth so, as few as
three equally-spaced satellites can provide near global
coverage. This is because when a satellite is this far from
Earth, it can cover large sections at once.

Low Earth orbit (LEO)

• It is also the orbit used for the International Space Station (ISS), as
• A low Earth orbit (LEO) is, as the name suggests, an orbit that is relatively it is easier for astronauts to travel to and from it at a shorter
close to Earth’s surface. distance.
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• It is normally at an altitude of less than 1000 km but could be as low as 160
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• Satellites in this orbit travel at a speed of around 7.8 km per

above Earth’s surface.

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km above Earth – which is low compared to other orbits, but still very far
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second; at this speed, a satellite takes approximately 90 minutes to
circle Earth, meaning the ISS travels around Earth about 16 times a

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• Unlike satellites in GEO that must always orbit along Earth’s equator, Low
earth orbits can be tilted. This means there are more available routes for
day.
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satellites in LEO, which is one of the reasons why LEO is a very commonly • However, individual LEO satellites are less useful for tasks such as
used orbit. telecommunication, because they move so fast across the sky,
• LEO’s close proximity to Earth makes it useful for several reasons. It is the communications satellites in LEO often work as part of a large
orbit most commonly used for satellite imaging, as being near the surface combination or constellation, of multiple satellites to give constant
allows it to take images of higher resolution. coverage.
 Medium Earth orbit (MEO)

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• Medium Earth orbit comprises a wide range of orbits
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anywhere between LEO and GEO.
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• It is similar to LEO in that it also does not need to

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take specific paths around Earth, and it is used by a
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variety of satellites with many different applications.
• It is very commonly used by navigation satellites &
some communication satellites.

Polar orbit and Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO)

• Satellites in polar orbits usually travel past Earth from north to south rather
than from west to east, passing roughly over Earth's poles.
• Satellites in a polar orbit do not have to pass the North and South Pole
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precisely; even a deviation within 20 to 30 degrees is still classed as a polar
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orbit.
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• Polar orbits are a type of low Earth orbit, as they are at low altitudes
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between 200 to 1000 km.
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• Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) is a particular kind of polar orbit.
• Satellites in SSO are synchronous with the Sun. This means they are
synchronised to always be in the same ‘fixed’ position relative to the Sun. This
means that the satellite always visits the same spot at the same local time – for
example, passing the city of Paris every day at noon exactly.
 Satellite Launchers
Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO)

• Transfer orbits are a special kind of orbit used to get from one orbit to
another.
•
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A GTO is highly elliptic. Its perigee (closest point to Earth) is typically as
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high as low Earth orbit (LEO), while its apogee (furthest point from Earth) is
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as high as geostationary / geosynchronous orbit. That makes it a Hohmann
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transfer orbit between LEO and GSO. BI N
•
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Using this system the satellite is placed into a low earth orbit with an altitude
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of around 180 miles. Once in the correct position in this orbit rockets are
fired to put the satellite into an elliptical orbit with the perigee at the low
earth orbit and the apogee at the geostationary orbit as shown. When the
satellite reaches the final altitude the rocket or booster is again fired to retain
it in the geostationary orbit with the correct velocity.

1. Satellite Launch Vehicle-3: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV):

• (SLV-3) was India's first experimental satellite launch vehicle, • It is the third generation launch vehicle of India.
which was an all solid, four stage vehicle weighing 17 tonnes with • It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages.

Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

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a height of 22m and capable of placing 40 kg class payloads in
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• It is a four-staged launch vehicle with first and third stage using solid
rocket motors and second and fourth stages using liquid rocket
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• While building upon the experience gained from the SLV-3
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engines.
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missions, ISRO developed the “Augmented Satellite Launch
Vehicle” (ASLV), designed to augment the payload capacity to 150
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• It also uses strap-on motors to augment the thrust provided by the first
stage and depending on the number of these strap-on boosters, the PSLV

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kg for Low Earth Orbits (LEO). It is a five stage, all-solid
propellant vehicle. HI
is classified into its various versions like core-alone version (PSLV-CA)
with no strap-on boosters, PSLV-G with six strap-on boosters (9 tons
each), and PSLV-XL variant with 6 strap-on boosters (12 tons each).
• New variants such as PSLV-DL (2 strap on motors) & PSLV-QL (4 strap
on motors) are also being used.
• PSLV is designed mainly to deliver the “remote-sensing” satellites 3. Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (Fat boy):
with lift-off mass of up to about 1750 Kg to Sun-Synchronous • (GSLV) is the fourth generation launch vehicle developed by India. Two
circular polar orbits.
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• After its first successful launch in October 1994, PSLV emerged as
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versions of the GSLV are being developed by ISRO.
• The first version, GSLV Mk-II, has the capability to launch satellites of
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the reliable and versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India by
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lift-off mass of up to 2,500 kg to the GTO and satellites of up to 5,000
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launching the satellites of lower lift-off mass of up to about 1400 Kg
to GEO transfer orbit (GTO). Besides, the vehicle successfully
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kg lift-off mass to the LEO.
• GSLV MK-II is a three-staged vehicle with first stage using solid

Spacecraft. HI
launched two spacecrafts – Chandrayaan-1 and Mars Orbiter
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rocket motor, second stage using Liquid fuel and the third stage,
called Cryogenic Upper Stage, using cryogenic engine.

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)

• Low-cost alternate to launch small satellites
• GSLV Mk III, chosen to launch Chandrayaan – 2 spacecraft and
• Produced through New space India Limited (NSIL,Nodal agency for SSLV)
will be used to carry Gaganyaan. • 3-Stage Solid propulsion
• For one of its recent launch, ISRO redesignated GSLV-MK III to • Pay load capacity of 300 kg to Sun synchronous orbit & LEO 500 kg to
LVM-III (Launch Vehicle – Mark III)
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• It is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The
vehicle has two solid strapons on either side of its core liquid
Planned launches:
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• In March 2022, ISRO has successfully conducted ground testing of

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booster. Each carry 204 tons of composite solid propellant and their A
SSLV's solid booster stage-SS1, completing the ground testing of all 3
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ignition results in vehicle lift off. It has a cryogenic upper stage. stages.
• It is designed to carry 4-ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous • SSLV-D1 (demonstration) launch has taken place in August 2022, but failed
Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to LEO, which is about due to a sensor failure and placed Earth Observatory satellite (EOS)-2 and a
twice the capability of GSLV Mk II. student satellite into a wrong orbit.
• The second developmental flight of SSLV, SSLV-D2 is successfully
launched.
 AGNILET: World’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket Vikram-S: India's first privately made rocket launched
(Mission Prarambh)
• On 4th November 2022, Chennai-headquartered space-tech start-up Agnikul had
successfully test-fired its single-piece 3D-printed engine, Agnilet. • Vikram is a family of small lift launch vehicles being developed by Skyroot
• It is the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine fully designed Aerospace.
and manufactured in India, which was successfully first test-fired at IIT Madras •in Vikram-S was launched by Hyderabad based startup - Skyroot Aerospace on 16
th

2021.
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• The current test was conducted at Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station It became the first Indian company to be authorised for launching a rocket by Indian
B National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
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(TERLS), at Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.
•
• The test was carried out as part of MOU signed between ISRO and Agnikul Cosmos The Mission titled 'Prarambh' (the beginning) carried three payloads belonging to
M
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Pvt. Ltd. to provide opportunity for Indian space start-ups to use facilities of ISRO two domestic customers and a foreign client.
through (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre) IN-SPACe. • It was fuelled by 3-stage all solid engine.
• This engine is going to be used in Agniban, a highly customizable two-stage rocket • Skyroot has been developing three variants of the Vikram rocket, named after Dr.
with 100 kg payload capacity to orbits around 700 km high (low Earth orbits). Vikram Sarabhai.
• It is going to use semi cryogenic engine that run on Kerosene as fuel and Liquid • Vikram-I can carry 480 kilograms of payload to Low Earth Orbit.
oxygen as oxidizer. • Vikram-II is equipped to lift off with 595 kilograms of cargo.
• Vikram-III can launch with an 815 kg to 500 km Low Inclination Orbit.

SKYROOT TEST FIRES 3D-PRINTED CRYOGENIC ENGINE

Vikram Series of Sky root:
● Private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace test-fired its 3D-printed Dhawan ● Specifically designed for the small satellite market, the Vikram series
II engine for a duration of 200 seconds. The engine was developed by the company of modular space launch vehicles bears Dr Vikram Sarabhai's name,
for its heavier vehicle, Vikram II. who founded the Indian Space Program.
(Note: Skyroot's first fully cryogenic rocket engine, Dhawan-I, was successfully test ● Vikram S, Vikram, Vikram II, and Vikram III are its four
fired in 2021). variations.
● Dhawan-II is completely indigenous and used a super alloy for 3D printing the engine, ● Skyroot became the first private company in India to launch a rocket
which reduced the manufacturing time by 95%. into space thanks to Vikram S.
● It will use Liquid Natural gas (LNG) and Liquid Oxygen (LoX) as propellants. ● By the time the Vikram II rocket is ready for launch in 2024, the
● LNG is more than 90% methane and is considered the rocket fuel of the future. company will be South Asia's first private launcher.
● The engine development was partly supported by NITI Ayog’s ANIC-ARISE program Source : Indian Express, 7th April , 2023.
which promotes technologies including the use of green rocket propellants.
 Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) ISRO’S REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE
LANDING TEST SUCCESSFUL
ISRO is also working on a reusable launch vehicle (RLV) ● The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully carried out the landing
is to achieve low cost, reliable and on-demand space experiment of the Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstration (RLV TD)
access.
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program at the Aeronautical Test Range in Challakere, Chitradurga.

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RLV-TD (technology demonstration) was successfully
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flight tested in 2016 from Sriharikota High Altitude Range
●
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6.5-meter-long smaller prototype of reusable launcher was taken to a height 4.5 km
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by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook helicopter and & dropped the RLV TD from

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(SHAR) validating the critical technologies such as
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there and ISRO executed the landing experiment of the RLV TD as planned.

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autonomous navigation, guidance & control, reusable
thermal protection system and re-entry mission ● The release of the RLV was autonomous as it performed approach and landing
management. maneuvers using Integrated Navigation, Guidance and Control System and completed
ISRO also said to be testing the landing capabilities of the landing.
RLV in 2022- a critical component for an RLV ● According to ISRO, the configuration of RLV TD combines the complexity of both
launch vehicles and aircraft.

ISRO’s RLV Project:

Other Agencies Using RLV or Partial RLV:
● The Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstration (RLV-TD)
● Reusable spacecraft have been around for a while; the NASA space shuttles
experiments, according to ISRO, are a part of efforts to "develop essential
have completed numerous human space flight missions.

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technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle to enable low-cost access to
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● With its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, SpaceX has been
space."

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● This vehicle will eventually be scaled up to serve as the first stage of India's
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demonstrating partially reusable launch systems since 2017.

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reusable Two-Stage To Orbit launch vehicle (TSTO).
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● Starship is a system of fully reusable launch vehicles that SpaceX is also

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developing.
● The RLV-TD from ISRO resembles an airplane.
Source: The Hindu, 3 April , 2023.
● Hypersonic flight (HEX), autonomous landing (LEX), return flight
experiment (REX), powered cruise flight, and the Scramjet Propulsion
Experiment (SPEX) will all be developed using the RLV-TD.
 Fuels used in Launchers
Solid propellant:
Cryogenic Engines:
• They consist of mixture of solid compounds (both fuel and oxidizer) that burn at a
rapid rate after ignition.
• Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every
• The fuel is usually organic material (hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene) or
powdered aluminum.
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kilogram of propellant it burns compared to solid and liquid propellant rocket

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• The oxidizer is most often ammonium perchlorate.
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• Solid rocket motors once ignited burn their fuel until it is exhausted. I N
• Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen are commonly used as cryogenic
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Liquid propellant:
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• Cryogenic stage is technically a very complex system compared to solid or

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• Liquid fuels can range from ordinary kerosene, which can be used at ground
liquid propellant stages due to its use of propellants at extremely low
temperature, to liquid hydrogen, which must be maintained at extremely cold
temperatures and other designing requirements.
temperatures.
• Oxygen liquifies at -183 deg C and Hydrogen at -253 deg C.
• In order to burn, liquid rocket fuel must be mixed in the combustion chamber of a
rocket engine with an oxidizer. Liquid Oxygen is commonly used as oxidizer.
• Liquid engines can be turned off after ignition and provide better control than solid
fuels.

COMMUNICATION SATELLITES

The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system

• One of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in Asia-Pacific

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• Established in 1983 with commissioning of INSAT-1B.

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• 9 communication satellites placed in Geo-stationary orbit (5 operational

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now).

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GSAT (Geosynchronous satellites)

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• India’s indigenously developed communication satellites.
• First launch in 2001.
• Launched by GSLV or foreign launchers (mostly Ariane-5).
• Over 20 GSAT satellites of ISRO have been launched, out of which,14 are
operational.
 Communication satellites – Tele education

They contain instruments like transponders (A wireless • ‘EDUSAT’(GSAT-3), India’s first thematic satellite dedicated exclusively
for educational services, was launched on 20th April 2004.
communication & monitoring device that pics up and responds to a • The objective is to supplement the curriculum-based teaching, imparting
signal) serving in various bands for TV broad casting, cameras,

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Radiometers (Detects and measures electromagnetic radiation) for
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effective teacher training, providing access to quality resource persons and
new technologies, reaching every corner of India.
Meteorological imaging.
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• Provides connectivity to schools, colleges and higher levels of education.
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• About 15 million students benefit through EDUSAT programme every year.
Applications:
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• It was used extensively to cater to a wide range of interactive educational

H I Television broadcasting, Satellite news

• Telecommunication,
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delivery modes like one-way TV broadcast, video conferencing etc.
• Also include the networks set up for users with special requirements such
gathering, Meteorology (Weather forecasting), Disaster warning, as:
Search and Rescue operation services • Blind People’s Association (BPA) of Gujarat – for Visually challenged
• Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI); Central Institute of Mentally
Retarded (CIMR) in Kerala.

Communication Satellites - Tele medicine

REMOTE SENSING SATELLITES (IMAGING)
• ISRO Telemedicine programme started in 2001
• Connecting remote/rural/medical college hospitals and Mobile Units
• Starting with IRS-1A in 1988, ISRO has launched many
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through the Indian satellites (INSAT) to major super specialty hospitals in
cities and towns.
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operational remote sensing satellites.

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• Covers various states/regions including Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh,
Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, Northeastern States
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• Today, India has one of the largest constellation of remote
sensing satellites in operation. Currently 13 operational

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and other mainland states.
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satellites are in Sun synchronous orbit & 4 in

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• Many tribal districts of Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, West
Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Rajasthan.
Geostationary orbit.
• Efforts are underway to provide emergency medical support to soldiers • The satellites use variety of instruments to provide
posted in high-altitude areas, especially Siachen. necessary data in a diversified fields.
 Remote Sensing - Applications
Theme based Remote Sensing Satellites Agriculture Resources & Environment
• Crop area estimation • Forest Cover & Type mapping
• Crop production Forecast • Wetland Inventory & Conservation plans
(i) Land/water resources applications • Crop health / damage assessment
• Biodiversity Characterization
• Desertification Status mapping
• Soil mapping
Ø
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RESOURCESAT series and RISAT series • Snow & Glacier studies
• Horticulture development

(ii) Ocean/atmospheric studies

N D Rural Development Disaster Management Support

Ø BI
OCEANSAT series, INSAT-VHRR (Very High-Resolution
• National Drinking Water Mission • Realtime analysis of natural disasters like

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• Wastelands Mapping/ Updation Flood, Cyclone, Drought, Landslide,
Earthquake and Forest Fire

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• Watershed Development &

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Radiometer), INSAT-3D, Megha-Tropiques and SARAL Monitoring • R&D Studies on Early warning Systems,
• Land Records Modernization Plan Decision Support Tools
(iii) Large scale mapping applications Urban Development Geology & Mineral Resources
• Urban Mapping of Major Cities • Landslide Hazard Zonation
Ø CARTOSAT series • Master/ Structure Plans • Mineral/ Oil Exploration, Mining Areas,
• Comprehensive Development Plans • Seismo-tectonic Studies
Cartography Ocean and Meteorology
• Visualization of spatial information. • Ocean State Forecast (OSF)
• Large Scale Mapping • Regional Weather prediction

NAVIGATION SATELLITES The IRNSS will help India enter the club of select countries which have their own
positioning systems. Following countries have global coverage:
Navigation: The process of accurately ascertaining one's position and planning and
following a route”
• USA’s GPS (31 satellites in a constellation)
Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS): independent Indian
• Russia’s GLONASS (over 24 satellites)

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Satellite based positioning system for critical national applications. Objective is to
provide Reliable Position, Navigation and Timing services over India and its
• European Union’s Galileo (Over 24 satellites)
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neighborhood, 1500 kilometers around the Indian mainland.
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• 9 satellites launched, one unsuccessful, eight satellites are currently in orbit (3 in
satellites)
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• China's BeiDou (Full global services launched in July 2020 with constellation of 35
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Geo stationary orbit and remaining in Geosynchronous orbits).
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• Japan's Quasi Zenith (QZSS) regional system (planned to launch 7 satellites).

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• The IRNSS constellation is known as Navigation with Indian Constellation
The system was developed partly because access to foreign government-
(NavIC)
controlled global navigation satellite systems is not guaranteed in hostile situations, as
• IRNSS-1I is the latest (eighth) member of the NavIC system, launched on 12th
happened to the Indian military in 1999 when the United States denied an Indian request
April, 2018, into Geosynchronous orbit.
for Global Positioning System (GPS) data for the Kargil region, which would have
• ISRO has recently revealed its plans to add new navigation satellites in Medium
provided vital information. The Indian government approved the project in May 2013.
Earth Orbits to increase coverage.
 Navigation satellites - Applications GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN)
• Developed by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Ø Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation • To establish and deploy satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) for
Ø Disaster Management civil aviation applications.

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Ø Vehicle tracking and fleet management
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• Augmentation is to improve the attributes of Global Navigation Satellite

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Ø Integration with mobile phones
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System such as accuracy, reliability etc.
• Replace ground-based navigation systems using radars.

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Ø Precise Timing and Mapping
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• More efficient use of available airspace.

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• GAGAN GEO coverage extends from Africa to Australia and has
Ø Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers expansion capability for seamless navigation services across the region.
• GAGAN is already operational through GSAT-8, GSAT-10, and GSAT
Ø Visual and voice navigation for drivers 15 satellites.
Uses: Additional accuracy, availability, and integrity necessary for all phases
of flight.

Chandrayaan-1
• Launched on 22nd October 2008.
• India became the 4th country (USA, RUSSIA, JAPAN) to land a

NDU probe on the moon.

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MOON MISSIONS • Distance: 386,000 km from the earth
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• PSLV-XL (C11) (320 ton lift-off weight)

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• Cost: $ 80 million (~400 cr)

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• The mission included a lunar orbiter and an impactor.

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• Expected duration: 2 years , Lasted for ~ 10 months.
• Confirmed water ice on the surface using NASA’s instrument,
Moon minerology mapper, M3.
• Carried 11 scientific instruments (payloads), 5 from ISRO,
remaining from other countries.
 HIMA BINDU
Chandrayaan-2
• Launched on 22nd July 2019.
• GSLV Mk III-M1
• Cost : ~ 1000 Cr

D U • 3 parts: Orbiter, Lander and Rover.

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BI N • Could have become the first-ever

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mission to land a rover near N
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the lunar south pole (Unexplored).

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• Lander crashed during the soft
landing.
• Only US, Russia and China have
been able to soft-land spacecraft on
lunar surface so far.

HIMA BINDU

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HI 2379 kg
Pragyan (27kg) 7yrs life,
6-wheeled robotic vehicle for Vikram (1471 kg)
Observe the lunar surface 14-days Life
In situ analysis Relay communication between
14-days Life Earth and Lander
HIMA BINDU
 HIMA BINDU

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Indian Express
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HIMA BINDU Hindustan Times

China’s Chang’e-4 Mission

• On January 2nd, 2019, China has successfully landed a robotic Tidal locking: The moon takes about 29 days to complete one
spacecraft on the far side of the Moon, the first ever such landing. revolution around the Earth, the same time it takes to make one rotation
• Previous Moon missions have landed on the Earth-facing side, but this is on its own axis. As a result, we see the same side of the moon
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the first successfully landing on the unexplored far side.
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irrespective of when and where on Earth we look at it from.
• It is carrying instruments to analyse N N “tidal locking”. The Earth’s
B I the unexplored region's geology, as
well to conduct biological experiments.
The reason for this is a phenomenonIcalled
B
A
M As a result, it is not possible for a lunar rover A
gravitational pull on the moon and tidal forces ( A gravitational effect
M
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• The area where the probe has landed faces away from Earth, meaning it is
free from radio frequencies.
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body due to a gradientIin gravitational force from the other body) have
that stretches a body along the line towards the center of mass of another

to communicate directly with ground control. slowed down the moon’s rotation down to the current speed, where it is
• Hence, China launched a dedicated satellite (Queqiao) orbiting to relay locked with the time it takes to orbit the Earth.
information from the rover to Earth.
 China’s Chang’e-5 Mission
• Lunar sample return mission launched on November 24th, 2020. New International Moon missions
• It made China just the third country to have retrieved lunar samples, after
the US and the former Soviet Union (1976). • NASA’s VIPER rover: Planned to be launched on the Moon's south

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• The mission carried a lunar orbiter, a lander, and an ascent probe. pole in 2023 to study water ice.
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I N
• In December 2020, it successfully brought approximately 2 kilograms of
B
lunar samples – the first to be returned in 44 years.
B I N
• South Korea launched Danuri (also known as the Korean Pathfinder

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• It provided first on-site evidence of water.
M A
Lunar Orbiter or KPLO) to the Moon on August 5, 2022, to study the
I scientists understand more about the moon's origin I plan future missions to the lunar poles.
and formation. H H
• Lunar material will help Moon's surface and help
• Beresheet2: Israeli non-profit organization, SpaceIL’s plan to the
• It marked a successful conclusion of China’s current three-step lunar
exploration programme of orbiting, landing, and sample collection, Moon targeting 2024 to conduct scientific experiments.
which began in 2004.

NASA's ARTEMIS MISSION

• Artemis is the ambitious plan of NASA to relaunch its human missions to Moon
after 5 decades
• The Artemis program comprises of three missions:

U
• Artemis I, launched on 16th November 2022, is an uncrewed mission, with human
U D
D
A BIN
models to test the functioning of the rocket and effects on Human body.

I N
• NASA's SLS rocket carried Orion spacecraft into space to travel past the moon and INTER PLANETARY MISSIONS
B HIM
cover 1.3 million miles before ending its 42-day journey back to earth.
A
• Artemis II will be the first crewed flight test of the SLS rocket and the Orion
M
HI
spacecraft around the Moon taking humans to their farthest point yet in space.
• Artemis III will make history by landing humans on the Moon.
• With this Mission, NASA is planning to establish long-term presence on Moon by
setting up a human base camp, a series of nuclear reactors, and a mineral mining
operation.
• It is going to be stepping stone of its journey to Mars and then further exploration of
deep space.
 Mangalyaan (MOM)
End of India's Mangalyaan (MOM) Mission
• Launch vehicle : PSLV XL (C25) (1350 Kg)
• Launched on 5th Nov 2013 • on 3rd October 2022, ISRO confirmed that the Mars Orbiter craft has lost
communication with ground station and is non-recoverable and with this the
• Cost: $ 75 million (~ 450 crore)
U U
Mangalyaan mission has attained end-of-life.

D D
• Payload: 1350 kg • Due to back-to-back eclipses, all the propellant on board the Mars orbiter
•
I N
Mangalyaan traveled for ~300 days, covering ~ 680 mn kilometers, and reached
B
Martian orbit in September 2014. I N
seems to have been consumed, bringing it to its end.
B
• Mars orbiter craft functioned for almost eight years, well beyond its designed
• A
Objective: To study the composition of Mar’s SAM (Surface – Atmosphere –
M MA
mission life of six months.

HI HI
Minerals), using 5 different payloads. • "MOM is credited with many laurels like cost-effectiveness, short period of
• On going mission realization, economical mass-budget, and miniaturization of five heterogeneous
science payloads.
• ISRO is planning another orbiter mission (MOM-2).
• The Mars Color Camera (MCC) has produced more than 1000 images and
• It made India the 4th space agency to orbit mars after ROSCOSMOS, NASA, ESA published a Mars Atlas.
• Made India the first nation to send a satellite into Martian orbit on its first attempt.

NASA’s Perseverance HOPE (Al-Amal)

• United Arab Emirates' (UAE’s) first-ever interplanetary mission
• It is a NASA’S MARS ROVER, launched on 30th July 2020 • This orbiter/probe, developed by UAE scientists in the USA and was launched on 19th
• It reached on: 18th Feb 2021 July 2020 from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.
• Took 7 months and traveled ~ 480 million Km. • Has successfully entered orbit around Mars in February 2021.
•
D U
It is part of NASA’s Mission 2020 to collect samples from Mars.
D U
• UAE became the fifth country to reach the Red Planet, joining NASA, the Soviet
•
•
Landing site: Jezero Crater
BI N
It uses the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (designed to study geology and climate
Union, the European Space Agency and India.
BI N
MA
on Mars, reached MARS in 2006) to send images back to Earth. A
Tianwen-1 (Questions to heaven)
M
HI HI
• Samples will be studied to learn if life has ever existed on Mars. • China’s first Mars mission, launched on 23rd July 2020.
• An experimental helicopter called Ingenuity, a small drone was sent along with
• A robotic spacecraft, consisting of an orbiter, lander and rover.
Perseverance to test if helicopter can fly in Mars’ atmosphere. • Has successfully entered orbit around Mars in February 2021 and landed a rover
• In December 2021, NASA announced that Perseverance detected Carbon(Zurong) in May 2021 on a massive plain in the northern hemisphere known as Utopia
containing organic compounds on Martian rocks – indicating past life on MARS,Planitia.
but it needs to be confirmed through sample verification in future. • China became the second only country, after USA to land a rover on MARS.
 Mission to Venus (Shukrayaan)
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY SET TO LAUNCH JUPITER ICY
• ISRO is also planning a mission to Venus.
MOONS EXPLORER (JUICE)
• Both the Earth and Venus share similarities in size, mass, density, bulk ● Recently, the European Space Agency is set to launch the Jupiter Icy Moons
composition and gravity.

D U Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.

D U
Explorer (Juice) mission to explore Jupiter and its icy moons, namely

N N
• ISRO is planning to send an orbiter that will be placed around 400 km over

BI
Venus to conduct research and understand its formation, its atmosphere and its ●
BI
Two other spacecraft have examined Jupiter: NASA’s Galileo probe, which

A
interaction with the solar wind.
M MA
orbited the gas giant between 1995 and 2003, and NASA’s Juno, which has

HI HI
been circling the planet since 2016.
• The mission is expected to be launched by 2024 and expected to orbit for ~ 4
● Launched from French Guiana on an Ariane 5 launcher. The mission is set
years.
to reach Jupiter in 2031.
• ISRO has been soliciting ideas for instruments for Venus mission since 2018. ● The spacecraft was constructed by Airbus Defence and Space, a division of
• The flagship instrument will be a synthetic aperture radar to examine the the Airbus group.
Venusian surface covered by thick clouds.

MARS missions
Main Objectives:
● To create detailed maps of the moons' surfaces and look beneath them to probe the NASA European Space Agency
potential habitable environments by analyzing the water bodies underneath. Perseverance Rover
MAVEN Orbiter ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
● To create a comprehensive picture of Jupiter by trying to understand its origin,
InSight Lander Mars Express
history, and evolution.
D U Curiosity Rover
D U
N N
● To explore Jupiter’s complex environment in depth, and study the wider Jupiter MARS Reconnaissance orbiter

BI
system as an archetype for gas giants across the Universe.
B I
Odyssey orbiter (working for two decades)
A
● The focus will be on Ganymede (the largest moon in the Solar System, which
M MABepiColombo
HI HI
generates its magnetic field).
● The three moons, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa, are believed to hold European & Japanese collaborative mission to Mercury. Launched in
October 2018 and expected to reach Mercury in 2025.
immense amounts of water, potentially making them habitable.
Akatsuki
● Juice isn't equipped to detect life but can find out whether there could be
Japan’s first interplanetary mission actively studying Venus’s atmosphere.
necessary conditions, such as water, biological essential elements, energy, and
Juno
stability, to sustain life. NASA’s mission exploring Jupiter (Reached Jupiter in 2016).
 VOYAGER TWIN SPACECRAFT
• The twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecrafts launched in 1977 are continuing to explore where ASTEROID STUDIES
nothing from Earth has flown before.
• The primary mission, Voyager 1 was the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn. • NASA's New Horizons launched in 2006 flew by “Arrokoth” (The most
• Voyager 2 went on to explore Uranus and Neptune and is still the only spacecraft to

DU U
distant, most primitive, snow man figured, Kupier belt space object ever
have visited those outer planets.
D
IN N
• In August 2012, Voyager 1 made the historic entry into interstellar space (the region seen close), 1.6 billion kilometers beyond Pluto and is exploring a region of
B
between stars), crossing the Heliopause (The boundary between solar wind and
B I
A
interstellar wind). The interstellar space is filled with material ejected by the death of
M M Aa sample of asteroid Ryugu to Earth in 2020
our solar system called the Kuiper Belt.

HI HIto two more asteroids.

nearby stars millions of years ago. • Japan's Hayabusa2 returned
• Voyager 2 entered interstellar space on November 5, 2018 and scientists hope to learn
more about this region. and is on a journey
• Voyager’s power supply comes from a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG)
which turns heat from the decay of radioactive material into electricity to power the • NASA's OSIRIS-REx collected a sample of asteroid Bennu for return to
space craft. Earth in 2023.
• Twin Voyagers are likely to run out of power within 5 years.

Aditya L1 Mission
• Expected launch: 2023
• A 400-Kg Space craft will be launched using PSLV-XL in an orbit around the
Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system.

U
• Lagrange points are the positions where the centrifugal force due to the velocity

D U
IN D
of orbiting satellite & the gravitational force / centripetal forces of two large

A B I N
bodies, Sun and earth balance each other. There are 5 such points in Sun-Earth

HIM
SOLAR PROBES system.
B
•
A
It is placed at 1.5 million kms away from earth to provide continuous view of the
M
HI
Sun without any occultation due to eclipses.
• It aims to study
Ø Solar corona (Visible and near infrared rays), Sun's Photosphere (soft and hard
X-ray) & Chromosphere (UV) solar emissions.
Ø Solar winds and flares, Coronal mass ejections ( significant release of plasma
and accompanying magnetic field from solar corona)
Ø Round the clock imaging of sun
 Parker Probe
‘Parker Mission’ is a probe launched by NASA to study the Sun.
• Launched using Delta-IV Heavy rocket in August 2018. Cost: $ 1.5 bn
• Over the course of seven years, Parker will make 24 loops around the Sun-
getting as close as about 6 million km away from the Sun of 150 million km.

D U •

D U
First-ever mission to "touch" the Sun (as per NASA, the probe in December

BI N I N
2021 flown through the Sun’s upper atmosphere – the corona – and sampled

B
particles and magnetic fields).

MA •

MA
This probe is considered to be the fastest man made object with speeds around

HI HI
190 km/s.
Key objectives:
• in situ measurements and imaging.
• Understanding of the corona and expanding our knowledge of the origin and
evolution of the solar wind.
• To forecast changes in Earth's space environment that affect life on Earth.
HIMA BINDU

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Vigil mission • The spacecraft at L1 would also monitor the solar corona and measure solar
(formerly known as Lagrange) energetic particles that may be associated with solar flares and the onset of coronal
mass ejections.
• It’s the first of its kind mission, with the aim of monitoring the unpredictable and • The spacecraft at L5 would complement measurements made from L1 by

U
active Sun and help protect the Earth from its outbursts.
D toward Earth.
D U
providing a side-view of the propagation of plasma clouds emitted by the Sun
•

B
incidences will be monitored by ESA Vigil. N
Solar flares, coronal mass ejections, geomagnetic storms, and other space weather
I •
I N
The spacecraft at L5 would monitor of the solar disk and corona and carry out
B
A A
measurements of the interplanetary medium.
Monitoring of the space incidences will help in predicting the timing of its arrival
M M
•

HI HI
on Earth and any effect it might have on infrastructure.
• This mission plans to position two spacecraft in the L1 and L5 Lagrangian points. Note:
• The solar wind is a stream of charged particles released from the outer most layer
• The spacecraft at L1 is to provide observations of the solar wind speed, density,
temperature and dynamic pressure, charged particle environment and the direction of the Sun’s atmosphere called the corona. This plasma mostly consists
and strength of the interplanetary magnetic field. of electrons, protons and alpha particles with kinetic energy between 0.5 and
10 keV.
 Solar storms

• The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), now more commonly • Solar storms occur when the Sun emits huge bursts of energy in the form
referred to as the heliospheric magnetic field (HMF), is the of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. (CMEs: huge streams of

D U
component of the solar magnetic field that is dragged out from the
solar corona by the solar wind flow to fill the Solar System.
charged plasma).

D U
• These events send streams of electrical charges and magnetic fields toward the

BI N
• A solar flare is an intense eruption of electromagnetic radiation in
the Sun's atmosphere. Flares occur in active regions and are often, I N
Earth at a speed of about three million miles per hour.
B
• When CMEs hit the Earth, they can cause geomagnetic storms that disrupt
A
but not always, accompanied by coronal mass ejections.
M MA
satellites, various forms of electronic communications and electrical power

HI HI
• A coronal mass ejection (CME) is a significant release grids.
of plasma and accompanying magnetic field from • They often produce a dazzling “northern lights" display in parts of the
the Sun's corona into the solar wind. atmosphere that can be seen in areas close to the Arctic Circle.

7) If a major Solar storm (Solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are
the possible effects on the Earth? (UPSC 2022)

1. GPS and navigation systems could fail

2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions

D U 3. Power grids could be damaged

D U
4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the earth

BI N BI N
5. Forest fires could take place at much of the planet

A A
6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed

M M
7. Short wave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could

HI HI
be interrupted.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1,2,4 & 5 only
b) 2,3,5,6 & 7 only
c) 1,3,4,6 & 7 only
d) 1,2,3,4,5,6 & 7
 LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory):
• Einstein predicted gravitational waves about 100 years ago.
• Gravitational waves can be caused when stars explode or when two black
holes merge or when two large bodies orbit each other.

NDU U
• In 2015, scientists detected gravitational waves for the very first time.
D
A BI
SEARCH FOR • They used a very sensitive instrument called LIGO (Laser
I N
HIM
Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory).
GRAVITATIONAL WAVES
A B
• These gravitational waves happened when two black holes crashed into
one another.
M
HI
• The collision happened 1.3 billion years ago & the ripples reached earth
in 2015.
• When a gravitational wave passes by Earth, it squeezes and stretches
space. LIGO can detect this squeezing and stretching.
• Each LIGO observatory has two “arms” that are each more than 4
kilometers long.

• A passing gravitational wave causes the length of the arms to

change slightly. The observatory uses lasers, mirrors, and
extremely sensitive instruments to detect these tiny changes.

D U
B I N
• Detection of gravitational waves was a very important event in
science. Before this our understanding of the universe was
A
only from studying waves of light. Now we have a new way to
M
I
learn about the universe—by studying waves of gravity.
H
• Gravitational waves will help us learn many new things about
our universe.
 • LIGO project operates three gravitational-wave (GW) detectors. Two are at Hanford
in the state of Washington, USA, and one is at Livingston in Louisiana, USA.
• Currently these observatories are being upgraded to their advanced configurations
(called Advanced LIGO).

D U U
• The proposed LIGO-India project aims to move one Advanced LIGO detector
D
N N
from Hanford to India.

BI I
• LIGO-India project is envisaged as an international collaboration between the
B
MA physicists).
MA
LIGO Laboratory and Indigo (A consortium of Indian gravitational wave

HI HI
• The Union cabinet on 6th April 2023 approved the project at an estimated cost of
Rs 2600 crores. The facility’s construction is expected to be completed by 2030.
• LIGO India will cork in tandem with the twin LIGO observatories in USA.
• LIGO lab would provide the complete design and all the key detector components.
Indian scientists would provide the infrastructure to install the detector at a suitable
site in India and would be responsible for commissioning it.
HIMA BINDU

• VIRGO detector is a 3 km interferometer in Italy. Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)

• The KAGRA observatory is an underground 3 km interferometer in • The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is a proposed space
Japan. probe to detect and accurately measure gravitational waves from
• They are managed by VIRGO collaboration and KAGRA collaboration, astronomical sources.
respectively.
D U D U
• LISA would be the first dedicated space-based gravitational wave

B N
• LIGO-VIRGO-KAGRA (LVK) collaboration: These detectors need to be
I
operating simultaneously around the globe to localize a source of
detector.
BI N
• The LISA concept has a constellation of three spacecraft arranged in an

MA
gravitational waves anywhere in the sky.
A
equilateral triangle with sides 2.5 million km long, flying along an Earth-
M
HI HI
• LIGO's success has led to ESA's plans of a future mission possibly by 2034.
The project is called Evolved Laser Interferometry Space Antenna / New like heliocentric orbit.
Gravitational Wave Observatory (eLISA/NGO) - or just LISA for short. • LISA will observe gravitational waves by measuring differential changes
• The first step to ESA's space-based observatory has been taken. LISA in the length of its arms, as sensed by laser interferometry. (work by
Pathfinder, which was a test-phase mission, ends on July 18, 2017, having merging two or more sources of light to create an interference pattern,
shown its technology works in space. which can be measured and analysed.) Each of the three LISA spacecraft
contains two telescopes, two lasers and two test masses
• (each a 46 mm, roughly 2 kg, gold-coated cube of gold/platinum),
arranged in two optical assemblies pointed at the other two spacecraft
• Studying gravitational waves gives enormous potential for

U
discovering the parts of the universe that are invisible by other means,
D D U
B N
such as black holes, the and other yet unknown, objects. LISA will
I
complement our knowledge about the beginning, evolution and
BI N
A
structure of our universe.
M MA
HI HI
• The LISA project started out as a joint effort between NASA and
the European Space Agency (ESA). However, in 2011, NASA
announced that it would be unable to continue its LISA partnership
with the European Space Agency due to funding limitations.

HIMA BINDU

GAGANYAAN
• First-ever manned space mission of India – announced on 15th Aug,2018.
• Expected launch - in 2023
• Budget: 10,000 cr.
• India to become fourth country in the world to send manned missions to

D U AND
MANNED MISSIONS space after USA, Russia and China.
D U
IN
SPACEBSTATIONS
•
I N
Planning to send 3 astronauts (using GSLV Mk-III) into LEO (300-400km).
B
They can see India from space while conducting experiments on

MA microgravity.
MA
HI HI
• Two unmanned test missions (delayed to 2023) will be launched before the
final manned mission.
• A humanoid robot (Vyom mitra) will be part of unmanned missions.
• Recently, ISRO has successfully integrated Vyom mitra with a computer
‘brain’ to enable it to ‘read’ control panels aboard the unmanned test flights
and communicate with its voice with the ISRO ground stations.
 HIMA BINDU

• ISRO has begun work on the manned mission in 2004.

• Many of the critical technologies required for human spaceflight have

DU U
already been validated through various tests
D
IN N
ü Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (from water bodies)

B BI
ü Crew Module Atmospheric Re-Entry Experiment (CARE) in Dec-2014.

MA MA
HI HI
ü Pad Abort Test (An ISRO launch escape system test of its crew module).
• Four Indian Air Force fighter pilots completed training in Moscow
Gagarin Research & Test Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) (Glavkosmos)
• Spacesuits are being made by Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical
Laboratory (DEBEL), an Indian defence laboratory under the DRDO.

SPACE STATION FOR INDIA

• ISRO is planning to setup its own space station in about a decade.
• It would be similar to the International Space Station (ISS) but smaller in
size weighing about 20 tonnes.
D U
I N
• It would be placed in a low earth orbit (~ 400 km).

B
• The preliminary plan for the space station is to accommodate astronauts for
MISSIONS AND SATELLITE
LAUNCHES IN NEWS
MA
up to 15-20 days in space to conduct microgravity experiments.

HI
• It may take about 5 to 7 seven years to construct, details will only emerge
after the Gaganyaan Mission is complete.
• China is also planning a large space station in the Lower Earth Orbit.
 JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
• Next Generation Telescope - successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.
• Developed by NASA—in collaboration with the Canadian Space
Agency and the European Space Agency (Cost: $9.7 billion).

D U
• It will be the largest and most powerful telescope ever built for use in
D U
space.

BI N
• Launched on 25th December 2021 by the Ariane 5 rocket from European
BI N
A
Space Agency's Spaceport in French Guiana.
M MA
HI HI
• Maximum Life span estimated to be 10 years.
• After a 29 day-long journey, the spacecraft will arrive at Lagrangian point
2 (nearly 1.5 million km from Earth).
• The gravitational forces of the Sun and the Earth can nearly hold a
spacecraft at this point, so that it takes relatively little rocket thrust to keep
the spacecraft in orbit around L2.
HIMA BINDU

• It will have a much larger primary

mirror than Hubble (2.7 times larger
in diameter & 6 times larger in area), giving
it more light-gathering power.

D U • It has infrared instruments with longer

D U
BI N I
wavelength coverage and greatly
B
improved sensitivity than Hubble. N
MA A
• Biggest feature is a tennis court sized five-
M
HI HI
layer sunshield that attenuates heat
from the sun more than a million times.
• The telescope recently captured a clear
image of the planet Uranus and its rings.
(April 2023)
 NASA's DART (Double Asteroid Redirection) Test
• On September 27, 2022, NASA conducted DART (Double Asteroid Redirection
Test).
• It is a mission to demonstrate Kinetic impact/Kinetic kick method to deflect
an asteroid by changing its motion.
D U
• For this test, NASA targeted Asteroid pair Didymos and its moonlet
D U
Dimorphos.
BI N
• LICIACube (Light Italian CubeSat for Imaging Asteroids) was launched BI N
MA
from earth along side the DART impactor to take pictures of the Asteroid
MA
HI HI
before & after the collision.
• DART collided with the Dimorphos (just 160 meters wide) at a speed of 23,760
kilometers per hour, and changed its angular momentum and moved it in to
a closer orbit to Didymos – causing deflection.
• This method is expected to save the world in future by safely deflecting a
killer asteroid on its course towards earth.

ISRO’s GSLV-MK III places 36 broadband GISAT-1 / EOS-03 Failure

satellites in Low Earth Orbit • GEO Imaging Satellite-1 is India’s first earth imaging satellite to be launched
• India’s heaviest rocket – GSLV- MK III, redesignated as LVM3 (Launch into a geostationary orbit.
Vehicle Mk –III) successfully injected 36 broadband satellites of a UK-based • Launcher: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F10)
customer in October 2022.
D U Objectives
D U
B N
• The LVM3-M2 mission is a dedicated commercial mission for a foreign
I
customer OneWeb, through New Space India Ltd (NSIL).
BI N
• Facilitates near real time observation of the Indian subcontinent, under cloud

A A
• UK-based customer plans to create a 588 satellite-strong constellation to free condition, at frequent intervals.

M M
• Helps quick monitoring of natural disasters.

HI HI
provide high speed, low latency global connectivity (OneWeb).
• It is first time India’s rockets carried a 5.8-tonne payload to space, heaviest • Keep a constant watch on borders.
• Helps to obtain spectral signatures of agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster
till date.
• With this Mission, India entered the heavier launch vehicle segment of the warning, cloud properties, snow, glaciers and oceanography.
market. • In August 2021, ISRO's attempt to place GISAT-1 / EOS-03 by GSLV-F10
• Currently India accounts only for 2% of the global market despite being one of mission failed due to a technical issue in cryogenic engine.
the foremost space faring countries.
ISRO successfully puts 3 satellites into orbit on board the PSLV C-52
• ISRO has successfully launched its first satellite for 2022 on 14th February INSPIRESat-1:
2022 under the new Chairman S. Somanath, after a dull 2020 with just 2 • It is a student satellite that has been developed by the Indian Institute of
launches and one of them being a failure (GSLV-F10). Space Science & Technology in association with the Laboratory of
• It placed an earth observatory satellite along with two other co-passenger Atmospheric & Space Physics at the University of Colorado.

D U
satellites into their intended orbit using PSLV-XL (PSLV-C52 mission).
D U
• The satellite will aim at improving our understanding of the ionosphere

I N
• Three satellites namely EOS-04, INSPIREsat-1 and INST-2TD were injected
B
successfully into a sun-synchronous polar orbit of 529 km.
BI N
dynamics and the sun's coronal heating process.
• Its operational lifetime is set for a year.

MA MA
HI HI
The Earth Observatory Satellite (EOS-04): INS-2DT (ISRO NanoSatellite 2TD):
• It is also called Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) with a mission life of 10 years. • It is a technology demonstrator satellite from ISRO.
• It serves for applications such as agriculture, forestry, and plantations, flood • Precursor of a joint India-Bhutan mission in the future (INS-2B).
mapping, soil moisture & hydrology. • Lifetime is 6 months.
• It will collect data in C-band complementing the observations done
by Resourcesat, Cartosat, and RISAT-2B series.

PSLV-C54 mission
PSLV-C53 mission • On 26th November 2022, ISRO has launched its PSLV-C54 mission from the first
• PSLV-C53 is a dedicated commercial satellite mission of NSIL, a central launch pad at Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
public sector enterprise under the department of Space, GOI. • This is the 56th flight of the PSLV and the 24th flight of the PSLV-XL version.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in June 2022 launched • It carried nine satellites along with EOS-06 satellite and eight customer

D U
three satellites for Singapore from its Satish Dhawan Space Centre, nanosatellites.
D U
Sriharikota.
BI N
• This was the second (commercial) launch mission for ISRO in the year
B N
• As per ISRO, all satellites have been successfully injected into their intended orbits.
I
• The primary payload is the EOS-6 satellite, a third-generation Oceansat series
2022.
MA MA
satellite, which is to provide continuity services for Oceansat-2 spacecraft with

HI HI
• It was the 55th mission of PSLV and 15th mission using the PSLV-Core enhanced payload.
Alone variant. • The mission carried “ISRO Nano Satellite-2 for Bhutan (INS-2B)”, satellite
• It successfully deployed the three satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). codeveloped by Bhutan and ISRO scientists.
• The spacecraft carried DS-EO satellite, NeuSAR, a 155 kg satellite, and • INS-2B satellite will provide high resolution images to Bhutan for their natural
Scoob-1 of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore to serve resources management.
Singapore’s Governmental, commercial and educational purposes. • This launch is an example of India's growing private and bilateral space work and is
"historic milestone" in the India-Bhutan partnership.
 ISRO PLANS TO LAUNCH TeLEOS-2 ON APRIL 22
● The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch Singapore’s TeLEOS-2
satellite on April 22, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
● This launch will be the PSLV’s 55th mission and ISRO’s third launch this year.

D U
● In 2015, ISRO launched TeLEOS-1, the first Singapore commercial Earth
Observation Satellite, which was launched into low Earth orbit for remote sensing
applications.
BI N ISRO'S OLDER MISSIONS
A
● It has synthetic aperture radar & a high-resolution camera that can capture images with
M
HI
a ground resolution of up to one meter.
● The primary objective of TeLEOS-2 is to provide high-resolution imagery of the
Earth's surface for various applications, including urban planning, disaster
management, maritime safety, and environmental monitoring.
● The satellite is also expected to support Singapore's Smart Nation initiative, which
aims to harness technology to improve the quality of life for citizens.

PSLV-C44 mission • The strategy is to move the fourth stage rocket (PS4) to a higher
orbit and stabilise it by adding a power source.
• PSLV C-44 serves as a test for a new variant of the launch vehicle, • The orbital platform would enable scientists to conduct technology
demonstrations and give an opportunity to school students across

D U
the PSLV-DL, which has two strap-on motors.
• It will make use of the final stage of rocket as an experimental
D U
the country to perform experiments in space, through student

I
orbital platform for a satellite.
B N satellites.
BI N
• PSLV C44 also carries an imaging and surveillance satellite called

MA
• The PSLV DL’s fourth stage, with a satellite built by school
students (Kalamsat, world’s smallest student satellite, built by
MA
Microsat for the Defence Research and Development

HI HI
Chennai based school students) strapped to its back, will continue Organisation (DRDO).
orbiting the earth at a distance of 450km above it for six months, • Microsat will be separated at an altitude of 277km, in low-earth
maybe more. orbit.
• Microsat satellite that was targeted in Anti-satellite test (ASAT)
was launched into Low earth orbit.
 EMISAT-India’s spy in the sky
• It is first attempt to place payloads in three different orbits.
• EMISAT is first ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) / Electronic
• The primary Satellite EMISAT (436 kg) was injected into a
surveillance satellite, which means it will have a radar to measure the
U
electromagnetic spectrum - so as to intercept and analyse radar signals,
D D U
sun-synchronous polar orbit of 748 km altitude.

B
frequency (RF) signature. N
find their location, identify the hostile radars based on their radio
I B I N
• Followed by two fourth stage restarts to achieve a 504 km
orbit, where all customer 28 satellites, weighing 220 Kg

MA
• EMISAT is a minisatellite designed and developed at ISRO for India's
were injected.
M A
HI • Subsequently, I
DRDO, Launched by PSLV-C45 on April 01, 2019.
• The spacecraft will help improve the situational awareness of
the Indian Armed Forces through information and location of enemy H the fourth stage is restarted again to achieve a
485 km orbit to serve as an orbital platform to carry out
radars.
• Marked the first mission of PSLV-QL variant with four Strap-on space borne experimentation (Studies on ionosphere etc.).
motors.

RISAT:
• RISAT is a series of Indian radar imaging (Radar = Radio detection and ranging,
RISAT-2B
it generates its own radio waves and transmits them from its antenna, towards the
target) reconnaissance satellites built by ISRO. • Radar Imaging Satellite (an Earth observatory satellite).

U
• They provide all weather surveillance using synthetic aperture radars.
D D U
• Launched on 22nd May 2019 onboard PSLV-C46 in to LEO.

B N
• It is a special type of radar that is used to create two dimensional images or 3D
I
reconstructions of objects such as landscapes.
BI N
• All-weather as well as the day-and-night “Synthetic Aperture
Radar (SAR)” observation capability for high resolution

MA
• It uses motion of the Radar antenna over a target region to provide finer spatial imaging.
MA
HI HI
resolution than conventional beam scanning radars.
• SAR is mounted on a moving platform like aircraft or space craft.
• Applications such as agriculture, forestry, soil moisture,
geology, sea ice, coastal monitoring, object identification, and
• The distance the SAR device travels over a target in the time taken for the radar
pulses to return to the antenna creates the large synthetic antenna aperture (A flood monitoring, but also for military surveillance.
measure of how effective an antenna is at receiving the power of electromagnetic
radiation)
 Cartosat-3 (Sharpest eye)
RISAT-2BR1 • It is a third-generation advanced earth observation satellite carried by PSLV-
C47 on 27th November 2019.
• Another Radar imaging earth observation satellite. • Launched into a sun synchronous polar orbit of 509 km.

DU U
Resolution: One of Cartosat-3’s cameras offers a ground resolution of 25 cm -
D
•

• Launched on 11th December 2019, onboard PSLV-QL in to

IN N
it can pick up an object of a minimum of 25 cm size from a height of around
LEO.
B
500 km.
BI
ARadar (SAR).
• Uses Synthetic-Aperture
M
•

MA
It is described as the 'sharpest eye' of civil remote sensing satellites in the

HImeter HI
world.
• Resolution: 0.35 • Weight: 1,625 kg
It has many new technologies such as a highly agile or flexible camera; high-
• Applications in various fields like agriculture, forestry and
•

speed data transmission, advanced computer system, etc.

disaster management support, along with military use. • It is of great use for military Surveillance along with cartographic and other
civilian applications.

GSAT-31 Scramjet technology

• India’s telecommunication satellite.
• Successfully launched on February 06, 2019 from Kourou launch base, French
• Nearly 70% of the propellant (fuel-oxidiser combination) carried by today’s launch
Guiana by Ariane-5.
vehicles consists of oxidiser.
• Weight: 2536 kg
• So, launch vehicles which can utilise the atmospheric oxygen during their flight

D U
• It will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites.
D U
through the atmosphere will considerably reduce the total propellant required to

GSAT-30 B N
• The satellite provides Indian mainland and island coverage.
I I N
place a satellite in orbit. “Ramjet” is such an air breathable engine.
B
• It operates by combustion of fuel in a stream of air compressed by the forward

MA A
speed of the aircraft itself, as opposed to a normal jet engine, in which the
M
HI HI
• It was launched from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by Ariane-5 on January
compressor section (the fan blades) compresses the air.
17, 2020. • Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds around Mach 3 (three times
• Weighing 3357 kg, GSAT-30 is to serve as replacement to INSAT-4A spacecraft the speed of sound) and can operate up to speeds of Mach 6.
services with enhanced coverage. • However, the ramjet efficiency starts to drop when the vehicle reaches hypersonic
• The satellite provides Indian mainland and islands coverage in Ku-band and extended speeds (i.e >5 times the speed of sound).
coverage in C-band covering Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and
Australia.
• A Scramjet (Supersonic-combustion ramjet) is an improved version of Ramjet.
• It efficiently operates at hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion.
• The first experimental mission of ISRO’s Scramjet Engine towards the

U U
realisation of an Air Breathing Propulsion System was successfully conducted on

D
August 28, 2016 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota,
N N D
BI
• In this mission, ISRO demonstrated its indigenously produced Dual mode
Ramjet (DMRJ) Scramjet engines in flight A Jet engine where a Ramjet
BI
A
transforms into a Scramjet over Mach 4-8 range, which means it can efficiently
M MA
HI HI
operate both in subsonic and supersonic combustion modes.
• DRDO successfully conducted an unmanned scramjet vehicle
test for Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator vehicle in September 2020.
• Note: Subsonic-< 0.8 ; Transonic – 0.8-1.2, Supersonic-1.2-5, Hypersonic- 5-
10, High- hypersonic – 10-25 Mach speed.

EOS-01 CMS-01
§ New naming for Earth observatory satellites. • It is a communication satellite
§ Launched on 7th November 2020. • Launched on 17th December 2020 using Polar Satellite Launch
§ Second mission for PSLV-DL (PSLV-C49).
D U D U
BI N
§ Intended for applications in agriculture, forestry and disaster management
B I N
Vehicle - XL (PSLV-C50) into GEO transfer orbit (GTO).
• Meant for providing services in Extended-C Band of the frequency
support.
MA M A
HI I
spectrum.
• The coverageH
§ Along with EOS-01, nine customer Satellites were launched as part of a
will include Indian mainland, Andaman-Nicobar &
commercial agreement with NewSpace India Limited, Department of
Lakshadweep Islands.
Space.
• It is expected to operate for more than seven years.
 D U D U
BI N BI N
MA MA
HI HI

X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat):

• It is a satellite that ISRO plans to launch on a Small Satellite launch

DU U
vehicle 2023.
D
BIN OF ISRO I N
• It will be placed in the Low Earth Orbit.
FUTURE MISSIONS
A B
• It will measure polarisation of X-rays released from cosmic sources.
A
M M
HI I field and magnetic field which are always
(Polarisation: An electromagnetic wave such as light consists of a
H
coupled oscillating electric
perpendicular to each other; by convention, the "polarization" of
electromagnetic waves refers to the direction of the electric field).
 NISAR Mission
• NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar.
• X-ray polarisation measurements help understand the nature of • It will be the first satellite mission to use two different radar frequencies (L-
their source, including strength, distribution of its magnetic

D U
field and the nature of other radiation around it ( As the
D U
band and S-band) to measure changes in our planet’s surface less than a centimeter

INfactors). N
across.

B
polarization of X-rays affect these
BI
• NASA will provide the mission’s L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar and ISRO

A
The payloads to be carried:
M MA
will provide S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar.

H I in X-rays (POLIX), developed by

• Polarimeter Instrument
HI
• This allows the mission to observe a wide range of changes, from the flow rates
of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes, biomass,
Bengaluru-based Raman Research Institute.
natural hazards, sea level rise, and groundwater etc.
• XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing).
• Likely to be launched by GSLV in 2024 from India after final assembly at UR
RAO Space centre in to a sun synchronous orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Centre .

SPACE DEBRIS
NISAR SATELLITE TO MAP HIMALAYA’S
• Space debris is the collection of defunct man-made objects in space — old
SEISMIC ZONES
● NISAR will map the most seismically active satellites, spent rocket stages and fragments from disintegration and collisions.

U
(earthquake prone) regions in the Himalayas with
D D U
• It is estimated that there are about half a million pieces of man-made

●
unprecedented regularity.

BI N
The data which it will generate can potentially give
substances orbiting the Earth.

B I N
• These space debris can really be dangerous as they travel at high speeds, which

MA
advance warning of land subsidence (Gradual caving turns even tiny pieces of junk A
M into deadly shrapnel that can damage satellites,

HI space shuttles and evenIspace stations.

in or sinking), point to places that are at greatest risk
from earthquakes.
•
H
Kessler effect/syndrome: Proposed by NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler in
● The satellite will operate for a minimum of three years.
1978 - proposed that a chain reaction of exploding space debris can end up
● NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days.
making space activities and the use of satellites impossible for generations.
 Space debris – Steps taken by ISRO
• On 14th December 2020, ISRO inaugurated a dedicated space
• ISRO is a member of “Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination situational awareness (SSA) Centre at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking
Committee” (IADC), which makes global efforts to reduce man-made and
and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bangalore under project

D U
natural space debris. They exchange information on space debris among
NETRA.
D U
B N
member space agencies and alert a respective space agency when any
I
satellite of that space agency is in danger due to space debris.” I
• The project NETRA with an estimated N to cost of ₹400 crore, will give
B situational awareness (SSA) like
A
• ISRO also banks on its sophisticated “Multi-Object Tracking Radar
M A
India its own capability in space
M— which is used to ‘predict’ threats from
HI I
the other space powers
Hsatellites.
(MOTR)”, operational since 2015, to track space debris.
• In 2019, ISRO initiated ‘Project NETRA’ (NEtwork for space object debris to Indian
TRacking and Analysis) – an early warning system in space to detect debris • Under “NETRA”, ISRO is planning to set up several observational
and other hazards to Indian satellites. facilities: connected radars, telescopes; data processing units and
a control Centre.

SPACE DEBRIS –
Initial focus seems to be on debris in the Low Earth Orbit, INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO CLEANUP
eventually ISRO wants to track the debris in GEO where the 1. “RemoveDEBRIS” has been deployed from the International Space Station
communication satellites operate. (ISS) that can capture and deorbit the debris.

D U 2.
D U
European Space Agency with Swiss start up company “Clear Space” is
Need:
BI N
• Currently there are 15 functional Indian communication satellites I N
building a spacecraft equipped with four robotic arms to capture debris and
B
drag it into Earth’s atmosphere. This mission, known as ClearSpace-1, is

MA
in the GEO, 13 remote sensing satellites in LEO & 8 navigation
MA
expected to launch by 2025.

HI HI
satellites in MEO. Protecting them is important for India. 3. NASA's Space Debris Sensor orbits the Earth on the International Space
• This would make India a part of international efforts towards Station.
tracking, warning about and mitigating space debris.
4. The United Nations has established the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space (COPUOS).
 • Department of Space announced Cabinet approval on reforms to boost private
participation in space activities on 24 June, 2020.
• GOI announced the establishment of a new autonomous body - Indian National
Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) that will take "decisions

PRIVATIZINGD U
SPACE D U
to regulate and permit activities in the space sector - a facilitator, and also a

BIN N
regulator.

ACTIVITIES BI
v ISRO will be the main body for all the missions.

MA A
v IN-SPACE acts as a channel between private and government space sectors.
M
HI HI
v NSIL works as marketing arm for ISRO
• Private companies can now produce their own satellites and rockets and use
ISRO’s launch facility to launch them for a fee.
• A large part of manufacturing and fabrication of rockets and satellites has also
begun in the private sector through NSIL.

New Space India Limited

NSIL & ANTRIX corporation
• An agreement between Antrix corporation and Bengaluru based startup Devas• It is a new commercial arm of ISRO, incorporated on 6 March 2019 (under the
multimedia was signed in 2005 under which Antrix agreed to build, launch and Companies Act, 2013) is a wholly owned Government of India company, under the
operate two satellites and lease our 90% of satellite transponder capacity to Devas administrative control of Department of Space (DOS).

services throughout India.

D U
which had planned to use it to offer hybrid satellite and terrestrial communication • NSIL will have role in the following:
D U
Ø Production of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Small Satellite Launch

I N
• The deal included 70MHz of S-band spectrum (Restricted for the use by security
B
forces and government telecom entities like MTNL and BSNL) which was BI
Vehicle (SSLV) through industry;N
Ø Building of Satellites (both Communication and Earth Observation) as per user

MA
priced at 1000 crore. A media expose claimed that incurred heavy loss to the requirements.
MA
HI HI
national exchequer (Treasurer or the treasury itself). Ø Transfer of technology developed by ISRO centres/ units and constituent
• The controversial deal was cancelled later. institutions of Dept. of Space;
• The long legal battle between Antrix and Devas ended up in the supreme court in 1 st Ø Marketing spin off technologies and products/ services emanating out of ISRO
Jan 2022 which ordered the winding up of the startup. activities
• NSIL is considered to be a move to protect the space industry in India from the ISRO is also willing to provide place for private players to build their own launchpad
consequences of the Devas-Antrix mess. within the Sriarikota launch station.
 SPACE X
• Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (Space X) is an American
aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company. • SpaceX broke the world record of the greatest number of satellites
• It was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk. carried by a single rocket as by sending 143 payloads into space
Crew Dragon spacecraft on 24th Jan 2021.

D U
• Space X has contract with NASA for Cargo and crew transportation to and
U
• With this it broke the record of ISRO’s 104 satellites being launched
D
from the International Space Station.

BI N
• On 30th May 2020, Crew dragon Demo-2 mission took Two NASA astronauts
in one go in February 2017.
BI N
• The reusable Falcon 9 rocket carried 133 commercial and
falcon 9 rocket.
MA
to ISS. It was the first crewed test flight of the crew dragon space craft and the
A
government spacecraft and 10 Starlink satellites to space - part of
M
HI HI
• SpaceX Crew -1 mission: On 16th November 2020, SpaceX launched four the company’s Small Satellite Rideshare Programme.
astronauts (3 Americans + 1 Japanese) to the International Space Station in the • (Note: Starlink is a satellite internet constellation being constructed
first operational crewed flight of a “Crew dragon, resilience ”, spacecraft on a by SpaceX providing satellite internet access)
Falcon 9 rocket. It was the first full-fledged taxi flight for NASA by a private
company.

Space Race

SpaceX
(Elon Musk)

D U Inspiration-4
D U
BI N On 16th September 2021 flew the
BI N
MA automated Crew Dragon with four
MA
HI HI
civilian astronauts to an altitude
of 575 km.

They spent three days circling the

earth.
 PRELIMS QUESTIONS 2) With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System
(IRNSS), consider the following statements. (UPSC 2018)
1. For the measurement of which of the following are satellite
images/remote sensing data used? (UPSC 2019) 1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in

D U
1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location. geosynchronous orbits.
D U
I N
2. GHG emissions from rice paddies of a specific location.
B I N
2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders.
B
3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global
A A
3. Land surface temperatures of a specific location.
coverage by the middle of 2019.
M
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
M
HI HI
a) 1 only Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
b) 2 and 3 only a) 1 only
c) 3 only b) 1 and 2 only
d) 1, 2 and 3 c) 2 and 3 only
d) None

3) With reference to the India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following
statements: (UPSC 2018) 4) In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used? (UPSC 2018)

1. PSLV launch the satellites useful for earth sources monitoring where as GSLVs 1. Mobile phone operations

D U
are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. 2. Banking operations
D U
B N
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same
I
position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. Controlling the power grids.

BI N
Select the correct answer using the given below:

MA
3. GSLV Mk III is four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using
solid rocket motors; and second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
MA
a) 1 only HI
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3 HI
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) 3 only
5) The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO (UPSC 2016)
6) The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in
1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres
USA
D U
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after
D U
long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question

I N
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft
B
refers to (UPSC 2020)
BI N
A A
orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
a) Voyager-2
M
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
M
HI HI
b) New Horizons
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only c) LISA Pathfinder
(c) 1 and 3 only d) Evolved LISA
(d) 1, 2 and 3

D U
BI N
MA
HI