Lok Sabha Question No. 299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Space Missions of ISRO
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 299

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2024

## SPACE MISSIONS OF ISRO

299. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- the details of ongoing space mission of ISRO;
- the current status of the Gaganyan Mission;
- the details of the re-entry missions by ISRO; and
- (d) the details of ISRO's manned spaceflight and its advancements in technology and exploration?

## 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) Various Earth Observation and technology Demonstration missions  of  ISRO  such  as  NISAR,  RISAT-1B,  Resourcesat  3 series,  TDS-01,  TDS-02,  Oceansat-3A,  IDRSS  series,  NVS-02, SPADEX are at various stages of realization including Assembly, Integration & Testing related activities. The applications  include  all  weather  C  Band  RADAR  imaging,

oceanography applications, Environmental Monitoring & Climate  change,  Software  defined  payloads,  Technologies  for Rendezvous  &  Docking  etc.  The  Space  exploration  missions ongoing  are  (i)  Chandrayaan-4  with  the  prime  objective  of collecting Lunar Sample from the Moon and returning it safely to  Earth  and  (ii)  Venus  Orbiter  Mission  configured  with  the objective of studying Venus to further improve our understanding  of  origin  and  evolutionary  processes  of  Venus, its atmosphere, ionosphere etc.

ISRO is developing a partially reusable Next Generation Launch Vehicle  (NGLV)  that  has  a  maximum  payload  capability  of  30 tons to Low  Earth Orbit and is based on  LOX-Methane propulsion  systems.  ISRO  is  also  developing  a  winged  body Reusable Launch Vehicle - Orbital Re-entry Vehicle (RLV-ORV) with retractable Landing Gear, that will be launched into orbit using  existing  propulsion  systems  and  subsequently  re-enter into  the  earth's  atmosphere  for  an  autonomous  approach  and landing on a runway. Further, ISRO has initiated the Advanced Missions & Recovery Experiments (ADMIRE) R & D project to demonstrate the Vertical  Take-off  and  Vertical  Recovery  of  a liquid  stage  towards  reusability  in  future  launch  vehicles.  In addition to the ongoing operational PSLV, GSLV & LVM3 launch vehicle programmes, ISRO has recently completed the development  of  a  Small  Satellite  Launch  Vehicle  (SSLV)  that can lift 500 kg to 500 km planar Low Earth Orbit.

- (b) The  status  of  the  progress  of  Gaganyaan  programme  is  as follows :
-  Uncrewed Gaganyaan (G1) mission: Preparation for the first uncrewed mission (G1) commenced.
-  Human  Rated  Launch  Vehicle:  Human  rating  of  the launch vehicle has been completed . All the flight propulsion stages have reached SDSC SHAR. Fluid mockup filling trials of C32 Cryogenic Stage completed successfully.
-  Crew Module & Crew Escape System : First Test Vehicle mission  (TV -D1) for  the  performance  validation  of  Crew Escape System (CES) has been successfully accomplished.  CES  for  G1  mission  has  reached  the launch complex.
-  Orbital  Module  Systems : Ground  test  programmes  for Crew  Module  and  Service  Module  Propulsion  systems have  been  completed.  Various  Parachute  Systems  have been  tested,  which  includes  Main  parachute  Air  drop Test & Phase-3 of Rail Track Rocket Sledge Tests . Flight systems are in the final phase of integration.
-  Gaganyatri Training : Regular training programmes continues. Independent Training Simulator and Static Mockup Simulators realized for training purpose.
-  Major Ground Infrastructure : Ground facilities such as Orbital  Module  Preparation  Facility  (OMPF),  Astronaut Training  Facility  (ATF) and  Oxygen  Testing  Facility have been operationalized . Realization of Mission Control  Centre  (MCC)  Facilities  and  establishment  of Ground Station Networks are nearing completion.
- (c) ISRO has carried out two re-entry missions i.e., Space capsule Recovery  Experiment  (SRE-1)  which  was  launched  onboard PSLV-C7  vehicle  on  January  10,  2007  and  Crew  module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) which was launched onboard  the  experimental  flight  of  GSLV-MkIII  (LVM3-X)  on December  18,  2014.  ISRO  is  also  developing  a  winged  body Reusable Launch Vehicle - Orbital Re-entry Vehicle (RLV-ORV) with retractable Landing Gear, that will be launched into orbit using  existing  propulsion  systems  and  subsequently  re-enter into  the  earth's  atmosphere  for  an  autonomous  approach  and landing on a runway. In addition, missions under the Gaganyaan  programme  involve  re-entry/recovery  of  the  Crew Module
- (d) ISRO's human space flight programme aims to demonstrate end to  end  capability  of  launching  a  crew  to  Low  Earth  Orbit,  onorbit  operations  and  landing  back  safely  on  Earth.  These capabilities will be incrementally expanded and demonstrated by  ISRO  to  undertake  Indian  human  exploration  missions beyond LEO in future.  This  involves  development  of  essential technologies, mission operation protocols as well as establishment  of  specialised  ground  facilities.  A  revision  in Gaganyaan programme has been recently approved to include the objective of launching the 1st module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2028 and demonstrating essential technologies  for  undertaking  long  duration  human  spaceflight missions in LEO.

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