India Space Giant ISRO to add New Feathers to India’s Colourful Cap this Year…
While the entire country is still basking in the glory of New Year festivities, it’s a different kind of new year for the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). This year is going to be a hectic year for the organisation, which looks forward to launching five of its ambitious space projects in the first quarter.
It seems that 2017 is going to be a hectic but lucky year for the space agency. Team ISRO that had launched PSLV-C36 into space last month is braced up for future projects. For several months, ISRO scientists were working on the Pad Abort Test (which is associated with the Human Space Flight mission). The much-awaited project will come on the ground this month. Additionally, the space agency will test its luck in the first full-scale flight of the GSLV Mk III (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle).
Side by side, the agency will also work on GSLV Mk II and two missions on PSLV (Polar Satellite Mission), as reported by DR. K Sivan, Director at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thumba. The VSSC is a nodal agency that launches vehicles for ISRO.
According to the space scientists, all five missions are important and interesting in their own manner. In between the launching of space machines, ISRO will try to squeeze in Pad Abort Test. It’s important considering that it’ll help future astronauts escape in case a manual launch is aborted.
By the month end, the next remote sensing satellite in PSLV series– PSLV-C37 will take off with 83 satellites in tow. The biggest satellite in this group is Cartosat 2E that weighs 730 kg. All these satellites include a horde of miniature CubeSats (minor satellites) that belong to Israel, Kazakhstan, US, Netherland and US.
After the successful launching of Cartosat 2E, PSLV-C38 will lift off soon.
While it’s customary for space stations to launch the PSLV flights into space, the launching of GSLV Mk-II is something new and big for India. Why? Because it will carry the new South Asia Satellite (SAARC Satellite). This mission is due in March this year, as reported by ISRO chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar.
Moreover, the GSKV Mk-III mission (which is rumoured to be powered by a heavy thrust cryogenic engine made in India) will lift off in March.
With so many things present on their To-Do-List, it isn’t surprising that ISRO scientists will experience a busy schedule ahead. Nevertheless, it’ll consolidate India’s position in space technology.
