The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched its 100th rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in the early hours of Wednesday. The mission, known as GSLV-F15, placed the NVS-02 satellite into its designated Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

After the launch, ISRO chief V. Narayanan, who was overseeing his first mission as the Indian space chief, said, "The reward for hard work is more work, and we have got a busy year ahead with many missions lined up in the coming months."

Preparations for Gaganyaan mission

The ISRO chief also shared updates about the Gaganyaan mission, which is India's first program to send humans into space. He explained that ISRO is currently working on an important uncrewed mission called Gaganyaan G1 before sending astronauts.

This mission will launch a humanoid robot named Vyommitra into space to test important systems. If everything works as planned, ISRO will move forward with sending real astronauts.

To make this possible, ISRO has started putting together a special rocket called the Human-Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM3) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This rocket is a safer and improved version of the LVM3 rocket, made especially for carrying people into space.

The HLVM3 is quite large—it is 53 meters tall and weighs 640 tonnes. It is powerful enough to carry a 10-tonne load into low Earth orbit (LEO). Engineers have made several changes to the rocket to ensure it is extra safe and reliable for human spaceflight.

Major infrastructure developments

Apart from the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO is working on several other important projects:

  • The Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)
  • Chandrayaan-4, which aims to explore the Moon further
  • A Venus Orbiter Mission to study the planet Venus
  • Expansion of launch facilities in Sriharikota, including the construction of a third launch pad and a second launch complex

These projects will help India strengthen its position in space exploration and make new scientific discoveries.

Exciting Missions in 2025

ISRO has a packed schedule for 2025 with several important missions lined up:

NISAR mission

One of the most anticipated missions is the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission. This joint mission between India and the United States is scheduled to launch in March 2025.

The NISAR satellite will be one of the most expensive Earth observation satellites, costing around Rs 12,500 crore. It will scan land and ice every 12 days, providing crucial data on natural disasters and environmental changes. This will help in monitoring climate change and protecting Earth’s ecosystems.

Commercial launches

ISRO is also focusing on commercial missions. One of them is the LVM-3 M5 mission, which will launch the BlueBird 6 satellite for AST SpaceMobile. This shows India’s increasing role in global commercial space activities. This mission will be launched under a contract from NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO.

Technology demonstration satellite

Another important mission in 2025 is the Technology Demonstration Satellite (TDS-01). This mission will test 34 new technologies and will be launched using a PSLV rocket built by private companies.

This marks a significant step in allowing private industry to be a part of space missions. A consortium of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has developed the first private PSLV rocket called PSLV-XL N1.

Advancement in earth observation

ISRO is also planning to launch two new Earth observation satellites. These satellites will enhance India’s ability to monitor environmental changes, agriculture, and natural disasters. This technology will play an essential role in disaster management and planning.

With multiple ambitious projects underway, India is making great progress in space exploration. Whether it is the human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan, deep-space exploration with Chandrayaan-4, or participating in global environmental research with NISAR, ISRO is proving its capabilities on the international stage.

As ISRO chief V. Narayanan stated, "The reward for hard work is more work," and it is clear that ISRO has an eventful and exciting year ahead.