ISRO's Upcoming Projects For 2015-16 As New Chairman Takes Charge

ISRO's Mangalyaan or Mars Orbiter Mission has been a topic of regular discussion over the last couple of years. Right from November 2013, when Indians ISRO Mars Orbiter Gets "Happy Journey" Wishes From ISRO & Indians, to the several updates over 2014 about it being India's Mars Orbiter Spacecraft Is Right On Track In Its Journey To The Red Planet and later in September 2014, when India's Mars Orbiter Mission Update: ISRO's Created History This Morning, ISRO's Mars Orbiter has generated a lot of keen interest among youngsters and they've been speaking about it quite often through social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as their blogs & websites. ISRO Chairman, Dr. K. Radhakrishnan did comment on the appreciation that the organisation’s work has been receiving from the young Indian masses. Back in mid-January this year, a distinguished scientist, Mr. A S Kiran Kumar took over as the Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman, Space Commission and Chairman, ISRO.

Right from Bhaskara in 1979 to the Mars Orbiter Mission, the new chairman has worked on the development of many payloads of satellite missions. Mr. Kumar has closely studied the journey of Mangalyaan from the earth to Mars, taking crucial technical decisions till the last minute. He will be now working on expanding the applications of space technology. He has got 18 teams working on the same. As we take a look at the calendar full of new projects planned by ISRO, we find quite a few interesting missions.

Starting with next month, the fourth satellite of IRNSS Constellation, IRNSS-1D will be launched onboard PSLV-C27 in 2015. Later this year, ISRO will put India's first astronomy satellite (Astrosat) in orbit, providing a broad spectrum of instruments for the astronomy community. In between, PSLV will also have a commercial launch, and the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark II go up one more time, putting GSAT-6 into orbit. After that, all will be waiting for the GSLV Mark III and the indigenous cryogenic engine. The first two stages of the DSLV Mark III are ready, while the third and upmost stage is being developed at Liquid Propulsions Systems Centre near Thiruvananthapuram. Scheduled for a December 2016 launch, this vehicle will put a four-tonne satellite into geostationary orbit.

Meanwhile, ISRO has started forming concepts to develop a rocket that can put a 10-tonne satellite into orbit. Not only are ISRO's hands full with new projects about heavy launch vehicles, cryogenic and semi-cryogenic engines, even a moon and a solar mission and, but if there is enough government support, human space missions will also be commissioned.

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Source: Indian Space Research Organisation | Kiran Kumar: New chairman AS Kiran Kumar and PM Narendra Modi's focus on science to catapult ISRO into its next growth orbit - The Economic Times