Lok Sabha Question No. 4702 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Space Programmes and Missions
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Lallu Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE LOK SABHA

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2023

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4702 SPACE PROGRAMMES AND MISSIONS

## 4702.  SHRI LALLU SINGH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  India's  space  programmes  and  missions  to  be launched in the year 2023;
- (b) whether the Indian Space Agency will also send a mission to study the Sun;
- (c) if so, the details regarding the mission;
- (d) whether  the  Indian  Space  sector  is  opening  its  door  to  private companies and space startups in the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

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- (a) Major space programmes and missions launched / to be launched in 2023 include:

-  The 2 nd  development flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) - the SSLV D2- successfully launched on February 10, 2023 carrying three satellites: EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 into their intended orbits.
-  The commercial launch of the next batch of 36 satellites for OneWeb-  India  aboard  the  LVM3  through  NSIL  -  the  LVM3M3/OneWeb India -2 mission is scheduled for March 26,2023
-  NSIL sponsored commercial launches of TeLEOS-2 aboard the PSLV  C55,  DS-SAR  aboard  the  PSLV  C-57  and  ANWESHA aboard the PSLV C58 are also scheduled in 2023.
-  The  configuration  and  design  of  various  systems  related  to Gaganyaan is completed and the programme has entered the realization and testing phase. The first test vehicle mission, TV-D1, is planned in mid-2023.
-  The  launch  of  GSLV  F12  carrying  the  Navigation  satellite  NVS-01 is scheduled in 2023. This is the first of the series of NaVIC satellites with L1 band and greater security.
-  The Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment [RLV-LEX] is also scheduled during early 2023.
-  Further,  there  are  major  space  science  expeditions  planned to be held in 2023:
-  Aaditya-L1 - the first Indian Space mission to study the Sun, aboard the PSLV C56;
-  XPoSATThe X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite, India's first dedicated polarimetry mission to study the dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions, aboard the SSLV-D3; and

-  Chandrayaan-3  -  the  follow-up  mission  to  Chandrayaan-2, intended  to  demonstrate  soft  landing  on  the  lunar  surface, aboard the LVM3-M4. The spacecraft is being readied incorporating the learnings from Chandrayaan-2 mission, with additional  tests  being  conducted  towards  ensuring  a  higher degree of ruggedness in the lander.
-  The launch of Radar Imaging Satellite- RISAT 1 B aboard the PSLV C60 is planned in 2nd half of 2023.
-  Besides, a host of private sector activities, including launch vehicles and satellite launches, are also expected to happen in 2023.

(b) & (c)

Yes,  Sir.  The  Indian  Space  Research  Organization  will  send  a  mission called Aditya-L1 to study the Sun. The Aditya-L1 spacecraft will conduct solar observation from a halo orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point. The scientific instruments for this mission are developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, Inter University Centre for  Astronomy  and  Astrophysics  (IUCAA),  Pune,  Physical  Research Laboratory  (PRL),  Ahmedabad,  U  R  Rao  Satellite  Centre  (URSC/ISRO), (LEOS/ISRO),

Bangalore, Laboratory for Electro Optics Systems Bangalore and Space Physics Laboratory (SPL/ISRO), Trivandrum.

The scientific objectives of Aditya-L1 mission include understanding the coronal heating and solar wind acceleration, understanding the initiation of Coronal Mars Ejection (CME), to understand coupling and dynamics of the solar atmosphere, as well as the solar wind distribution at the first Sun- Earth Lagrangian point. This mission is unique with its capability of imagining  the  solar  disk  in  the  near  -  UV  band;  study  of  the  CME

dynamics close to the solar disk (~ from 1 ·05 solar radius) and thereby providing information in the acceleration regime of the CME which is not observed consistently; as well as its capability to study the directional and energy anisotropy of solar wind using multi-direction observations.

(d) & (e)

Yes, Sir. Government envisages enhanced participation of private sector in conducting of end-to-end activities in the space sector. Participation of private sector including academic institutions, start-ups and industries  in  end-to-end  space  activities  is  expected  to  expand  the national  space  economy;  generate  more  employment  opportunities; create a thriving space ecosystem and result in increased Indian share in the global space economy in long term.

In order to increase India's share in global space economy, Government of India under visionary leadership has carried out space sector reforms to  allow  participation  on  Indian  private  sector  in  space  activities.  An autonomous  nodal  agency  the  Indian  National  Space  Promotion  and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has been formed on June 24, 2020. The IN-SPACe will promote, enable, authorize and supervise private enterprises and  start-ups to undertake  space  activities. This will enhance  the  diffusion  of  space  technology  and  boost  space  economy within  the  country,  for  a  resurgent,  Atmanirbhar  Bharat.  These  farreaching space reforms initiatives  by the Government of India in June 2020 will give a major fillip to private sector space industry, including the start-ups.

The major initiatives that IN-SPACe has taken up include enabling startups to use ISRO facilities and providing Mentorship support.

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