Space and beyond: The rise of ISRO

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Cause of discussion

 

National Space Day was recently celebrated on August 23, 2023 to commemorate the successful landing of Vikram Lander on the surface of the Moon.

 

With the launch of Chandrayaan-3 in 2023, India became the fourth country to make a successful landing on the Moon and the first to reach its south polar region.

 

The day marks India's progress in space exploration and inspires future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), thereby contributing to the country's ongoing space missions.

 

India's recent major achievements in the space sector

 

- Chandrayaan-3

 

The landscape around the landing site of Chandrayaan 3 is quite consistent. Under the surface of the Moon, there was once a vast sea of ​​hot, molten rock or magma.

 

The crust of the Moon was formed in layers, providing evidence for the Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO) hypothesis.

 

- Aditya-L1 Mission

 

The Aditya-L1 solar observatory, to be launched in September 2023, is designed to study the Sun from the first Earth-Sun Lagrange point, L1.

 

- EXPOSAT Launch

 

In January 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (EXPOSAT) to study radiation polarization in space.

 

- Gaganyaan TV-D1 Test

 

ISRO has carried out its Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) featuring a modified L-40 Vikas engine for the Gaganyaan human space flight mission.

 

Upcoming Space Missions of ISRO

 

- Chandrayaan-4

India's Chandrayaan-4 mission, scheduled for 2027, is aimed at being a sample return mission, bringing back rock and soil samples from the Moon to Earth.

 

- Next Generation Launch Vehicle

 

To support BAS and the broader lunar programme, ISRO is developing the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), designed to carry heavier payloads than the current PSLV or GSLV rockets.

 

- NISAR

 

The NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a low Earth orbit (LEO) observatory being jointly developed by NASA and ISRO.

 

Key Challenges in the Indian Space Sector

 

Limited Budget

 

India's space budget is significantly smaller than other major space-faring nations. In 2023-24, ISRO's budget is estimated to be around USD 1.7 billion, much less than NASA's USD 25.3 billion.

 

Technology Gap

 

Although India has made substantial progress, there is still a gap in some advanced areas such as human space flight, reusable launch vehicles and deep space exploration.

 

Private sector participation

 

The Indian space sector is still largely government-dominated despite recent policy changes to encourage private sector participation.

 

Undeveloped domestic supply chain

 

The Indian space sector faces challenges due to a less developed domestic supply chain for critical components and materials, resulting in heavy dependence on imports.

 

International collaboration

 

While India has partnerships with several countries, it is not involved in major international space projects such as the International Space Station.

 

Lack of academic – industry – government collaboration

The space sector lacks collaboration between academic institutions, industry and government agencies. A Thomson Reuters report shows that only 0.4% of patents have been obtained from industry-academia collaboration.

 

Upcoming steps

 

- Enhancing manufacturing capabilities

 

Promoting technology transfer from global leaders through strategic partnerships can help India rapidly advance its manufacturing capabilities in specialized space technologies.

 

- International collaboration

 

India's participation in the Artemis Accords provides access to advanced training, technological innovations, and scientific opportunities. Active participation in global space initiatives and missions can enhance India's reputation and provide valuable learning experiences.

 

- Commercialization of space services

 

Expanding and promoting commercial applications of space technology in areas such as agriculture, disaster management, and telecommunications can create new revenue sources. Additionally, supporting the growth of the space tourism industry can position India at the forefront of this emerging market, attracting both domestic and international investments.

 

- Space debris management

 

Investing in technologies for space debris removal and mitigation is essential for sustainable space operations. Recently, ISRO has reaffirmed its commitment to conduct debris-free space missions by 2030.