New Delhi:

As ISRO gears up for a milestone 100th rocket launch, scientists at the Indian space agency are carefully monitoring the health of the 50-metre tall rocket that stands at the second launch pad at Sriharikota. 

For Dr V Narayanan, the new chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), this is a trial by fire, as it is the first big launch under his command.

The rocket and the satellite have the new ISRO chief’s imprint all over it. Dr V Narayanan is a well-known specialist on cryogenic engines, a technology India took nearly two decades to master as legions of ISRO engineers toiled to give this challenging technology to India.

On this 17th launch, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle F 15 (GSLV F-15) is being flown with a swadeshi or an indigenous cryogenic engine.

“It is a very complex technology to harness and now India has mastered it,” said Dr Narayanan speaking to NDTV from the launch port after inspecting what he called was team ISRO’s “100th beautiful baby”, which stood magnificently in the moonlight weighing nearly 420 tonnes.

“I was the associate vehicle director for the GSLV D-5, ten years back when the first indigenously made cryogenic engine succeeded,” said Dr Narayanan recalling the January 5, 2014 launch, adding it has been “a fulfilling journey”.

Cryogenic engines pack the best punch to launch satellites in space. The fuel they use is liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and it was this technology that was denied to India by the then USSR under pressure from the US.

Dr Narayanan, then a young engineer, was drafted into the project to make an Indian cryogenic engine and after 20 years of active tinkering, ISRO did succeed and today all the heavier rockets launched by India use the Indian cryogenic engine.

“It has been a divine blessing to have worked on cryogenic engines and it has been a very satisfying journey,” said Dr Narayanan.

When asked if he had jitters about the one hundredth launch, Dr Narayanan said he was confident the launch will go off well since India has learnt from its mistakes.

On being asked if the ISRO had taken any special measures to make sure the one hundredth rocket launch does not fail, Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of India’s main rocket lab the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, in Thiruvananthapuram, said, “It is as robust as previous one. Like any other launch. We make every launch robust to the best of our ability. It will be successful.”

The first big rocket to liftoff from Sriharikota was the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3) on August 10, 1979, and now nearly 46 years later the Department of Space is ready to hit a century. On the one hundredth launch, ISRO hopes to place in orbit a navigation satellite weighing nearly 2,000 kilogramme.

Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is India’s independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) service to users in India as well as the region extending about 1,500 km beyond the Indian landmass, which is its primary service area.

“Launch number one hundred is a historical milestone for ISRO,” said Dr Narayanan, adding that SLV-3 could only carry 40 kilogramme to space, now India’s own rockets can ferry up to 8,500 kilogramme to space.
 

Bengaluru:

V Narayanan has assumed charge as the chairman of ISRO, replacing S Somanath, the Space Agency said.

In a statement, the ISRO said, “Dr V Narayanan, Distinguished Scientist (Apex Grade), assumed the charge of Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman, Space Commission and Chairman, ISRO on the afternoon of January 13, 2025.” Prior to this, Narayanan served as the Director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), a key facility responsible for the development of propulsion systems for launch vehicles and spacecraft.

He also played a pivotal role as the Chairman of the National Level Human Rated Certification Board (HRCB) for the Gaganyaan programme, India’s ambitious human spaceflight mission.

A veteran scientist, Narayanan joined ISRO in 1984 and has contributed significantly to India’s space missions over the decades. He became the Director of LPSC in January 2018, cementing his reputation as a leader in rocket and spacecraft propulsion technologies.

Narayanan hails from a humble background and is an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, where he completed his M.Tech in Cryogenic Engineering and PhD in Aerospace Engineering. Awarded the Silver Medal for securing the first rank in his M.Tech programme, he has also received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018 and the Life Fellowship Award in 2023 from IIT Kharagpur.

Before joining ISRO, Narayanan worked for a brief period at TI Diamond Chain Ltd., Madras Rubber Factory, and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) at Trichy and Ranipet.

Over his 40-year tenure at ISRO, including seven years as Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), he has made groundbreaking contributions to India’s space programme.

“When India was denied the cryogenic technology for GSLV Mk-ll vehicle, he designed the engine systems, developed necessary software tools, contributed for establishing the necessary infrastructure and test facilities, testing and qualification and completing the development of Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) and making it operational,” ISRO said.

As project director of the C25 cryogenic project for the LVM3 vehicle, he led the development of the C25 cryogenic stage powered by a 20-tonne thrust engine, which was crucial for the successful maiden launch of LVM3. His M.Tech thesis and PhD work were instrumental in the development of these systems, making India one of only six countries with indigenous cryogenic technology.

Narayanan played a vital role in India’s lunar missions. For Chandryaan-2 and 3, he led the development of the L110 Liquid Stage, the C25 Cryogenic Stage, and propulsion systems that enabled the spacecraft to reach the Moon’s orbit and achieve a soft landing.

For the PSLV C57/Aditya L1 mission, he oversaw the realisation of the second and fourth stages, control power plants, and the propulsion system that helped position the spacecraft in a halo orbit at L1, making India the fourth country to successfully study the Sun.

Narayanan has been instrumental in the Gaganyaan programme, contributing to the human-rating of the LVM3 vehicle and the development of various systems, including cryogenic stages, life support systems, and propulsion systems for the crew and service modules. He also chaired the Gaganyaan Certification Board, overseeing the certification process for multiple systems.

Under his leadership, ISRO has advanced the development of next-generation propulsion systems, including a 200-tonne thrust LOX-Kerosene semi-cryogenic rocket system, a 110-tonne thrust LOX-Methane engine, and electric and green propulsion systems for spacecraft.

He has also guided the propulsion systems for upcoming missions such as the Venus Orbiter, Chandrayaan-4, and the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS).

He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, Aeronautical Society of India, Astronautical Society of India, and other esteemed organizations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Dr. V. Narayanan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ISRO, Valiamala, during an interview with “The Hindu” in Thiruvananthapuram.
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY

Dr. V. Narayanan has been appointed the new Space Secretary. Dr. Narayanan, who is currently the Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), will also be the new ISRO Chairman and he will take over from incumbent S. Somanath from January 14.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved appointment of V. Narayanan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Valiamala as Secretary, Department of Space, and Chairman, Space Commission for a period of two years with effect from 14.01.2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” stated an order from Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Ministry of Personnel and Training.

Dr. Narayanan, who is a rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert, joined the ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities before becoming director of the LPSC.

During the initial phase of his career he worked in the Solid Propulsion area of Sounding Rockets and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). He has also contributed significantly for ISRO’s Geosynchronous launch vehicles namely GSLV Mk-II & GSLV Mk-III.

“As the Chairman of the National Expert Committee constituted to study the reasons for hardlanding of Chandrayaan-2 landership, contributed in pinpointing the reasons and corrective actions required to overcome the observations. Realised and delivered all the Propulsion Systems for Chandrayaan-3,” states Dr. Narayanan’s profile.

He takes over from Mr. Somanath who oversaw landmark launches like Chandrayaan-3, Aditya L1 and first developmental flight of the Gaganyaan mission.

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh):

ISRO is gearing up to achieve a significant milestone with a Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle mission scheduled in January set to become the 100th launch from the Sriharikota spaceport, a top official said.

The 99th launch from Sriharikota was Monday’s PSLV-C60 mission which successfully placed two spacecraft for conducting the Space Docking Experiment in a circular orbit, ISRO Chairman S Somanath said.

“So, all of you have seen the majestic lift-off and the launch of the SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) rocket, and for us, this is the 99th launch of any vehicle from Satish Dhawan Space Centre so, that is also a very important number. So, we are going for the 100th launch at the beginning of the next year”, he said.

Mr Somanath, also the Secretary, Department of Space, was talking to reporters after the PSLV-C60 mission successfully placed the Space Docking Experiment spacecraft A and B in a circular orbit.

On future launches planned by ISRO, Somanath said, “In 2025, we will have many missions to start with the GSLV launching the (navigation satellite) NVS-02 in the month of January.” ISRO successfully placed a navigation satellite onboard the GSLV-F12/NVS-01 rocket in May 2023. This GSLV rocket successfully deployed the NVS-01 navigation satellite, weighing about 2,232 kg into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

The NVS-01 was the first of the second-generation satellites envisaged for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) services.

On Monday’s PSLV-C60 mission, Mr Somanath expressed hope that many more Space Docking Experiments would be taken up by the scientists in the coming days.

“It is really an important mission with (India’s) space sector reforms and expansion of space activities. There will be many more SpaDeX varieties including complex missions of docking systems in the coming days,” he said.

Meanwhile, referring to the rescheduling of the PSLV-C60 rocket from the earlier planned 9.58 pm to 10 pm on December 30, Mr Somanath said, scientists do a conjunction study to check whether a satellite going to an orbit comes very close to another satellite while travelling in the same orbit.

“If you find there is any close proximity (between satellites), then we have to move the current satellite a little bit. Either, we delay it (the launch) or make it early, so that this proximity condition does not occur,” he said.

Scientists undertook time to fix the launch for the lift-off and decide on the best time which gives the maximum distance to be away from the other satellite in the orbit, he added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

India has set its sights on an ambitious space program, aiming to land an astronaut on the moon by 2040, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr S Somanath. 

This milestone announcement follows a year of remarkable achievements and unprecedented developments in India’s space sector. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has approved a record Rs 31,000 crore funding for ISRO and laid out a long-term vision for the country’s space endeavours, extending over the next 15 years.

“I believe that this year has been a very splendid year for us in terms of the missions that we accomplished and also the future roadmap that we have set for ourselves based on the vision of the Prime Minister. For the very first time in the history of the space programme, we have a vision for the next 25 years announced,” ISRO chief S Somanath told NDTV in an exclusive interview. 

As part of this roadmap, India plans to establish its own space station, the Bhartiya Antariksha Station, by 2035. A precursor to this will be the launch of a space station module in 2028, setting the stage for its full operational deployment by 2035. The culmination of this vision is the planned landing of an Indian astronaut on the moon by 2040.

“When we celebrate the 100th year of our independence, an Indian flag will be flying on the moon with our person going, putting it back, and returning safely. That is targeted in 2040,” Dr Somanath told NDTV. 

Before this, a series of preparatory missions will be conducted, including Chandrayaan-4, a lunar sample return mission, which has already been approved.

The development of a reusable, greener, and modular rocket capable of supporting human spaceflight and lunar missions has been cleared. This future-ready launch vehicle is critical for meeting India’s expanded payload requirements.

The space program’s benefits extend beyond scientific achievements. 

Over 250 space startups are driving innovation and fueling India’s space sector. Among these, Agnikul Cosmos made headlines by launching a liquid-propelled sub-orbital rocket. For every rupee spent on space, India has reportedly received a return of Rs 2.52. 

“An exploration mission for Venus has also been cleared,” Dr Somanath added. 

Bengaluru:

ISRO Chairman S Somanath on Wednesday highlighted the need to manufacture car sensors domestically instead of relying on imports.

Speaking at a session on space technology and defence during the Bengaluru Tech Summit, which also saw the launch of the Draft Karnataka Space Tech Policy, Mr Somanath emphasised the importance of cost-effective production.

He pointed out that while India invests significantly in producing rocket sensors, the high production cost of car sensors makes domestic manufacturing less viable.

“For car sensors, viability is achievable only if production costs are low and manufacturing is scaled up,” he said.

Somanath called for greater industry collaboration to address this challenge and noted that policy interventions like those unveiled at the summit could provide a solution.

He praised the 2020 space sector reforms and the Space Policy of 2023 for creating an ecosystem conducive to private sector growth.

“There is a lot of interest in the sector. I hear from many aspiring to build the next SpaceX in India,” he added.

Highlighting progress, Mr Somanath mentioned that five companies are currently building satellites, with many enhancing their capacity to develop subsystems for rockets and satellites. However, he identified a lack of major players and insufficient investment in upstream space capabilities as key challenges.

“To address this, we are focusing on developing downstream capabilities, which can generate demand and eventually attract upstream investments. I believe this model will work well for the nation,” he explained.

Mr Somanath also stressed the role of technology transfer in enabling private sector participation, saying, “Many technologies developed within ISRO are now accessible to industries for further development into products, services, or software.” The session featured other notable speakers, including B K Das, Director General of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), and Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States.

Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s Minister for IT, Biotechnology, Science and Technology, and Ekroop Caur, Secretary to the Government, Department of Electronics, IT, and Biotechnology, also participated.

Kharge stated that the draft policy envisions Karnataka capturing 50 per cent of the national space market and establishing itself as a global hub for space technologies. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Siliguri (West Bengal):

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Sreedhara Panicker Somanath attended a programme at a school on Sunday and said that the space agency aims to explore human space flight activities and build space stations.

While speaking with the reporters, Sreedhara Panicker Somanath lauded the Chandrayaan Mission and said, “I would like to say today, after the successful Chandrayan Mission, the world is looking at us. We have announced Space Act Reforms in 2020 and there is a new Indian Space Policy 2023 by the government which has enabled private companies and institutions to come and work together.”

He further added, “We are looking at a substantial growth in the space activity in private but more than that, there are institutional works which are happening. There is a new vision that has been put forward by the government in terms of what we want to do in the space sector in future.”

The ISRO Chairman called the vision exciting and said, “And all of that is very exciting. We can explore human space flight activities, moon and other planets, and build space stations.

He added, “We also want to do a lot of economic activities in the space sector to create job, industries, and startups in the country.”

On being asked about the Prime Minister’s vision to send an astronaut to the moon by 2040, Somanath said, “It’s already there in the announcement.”

As per ISRO, the Government of India unleashed reforms in the space domain in 2020, opening the doors for enhanced participation of Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) in carrying out end-to-end activities in the space domain and providing them a level playing field.

Subsequent to these reforms, the Government sought to provide regulatory certainty for space activities by various stakeholders, to create a thriving space ecosystem.

The Indian Space Policy – 2023 was thus formulated as an overarching, composite and dynamic framework to implement the reform vision approved by Cabinet.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

ISRO chief S. Somnath on April 21 said that the Aditya L1 solar mission of the premier space research agency is continuously sending data about the Sun.
| Photo Credit: ANI

ISRO chief S. Somnath on April 21 said that the Aditya L1 solar mission of the premier space research agency is continuously sending data about the Sun.

Mr. Somnath, who was speaking to reporters here after being conferred a special award by jewellery major P.C. Chandra Group, said several instruments of the spacecraft are working continuously to feed data on many aspects.

“We are looking into the sun in a continuous manner – UV magnetic charges observation, corona graph observation, X-ray observation and other things,” he said.

India’s first solar mission craft, Aditya-L1 spacecraft was launched on September 2, 2023.

“As we are keeping this satellite for five years, the observation will be analysed as a long-term measure. It is not like your instant news that something has been reported about the sun today, something else will happen tomorrow, things will happen every day,” he explained.

All observations will happen now but the results will be known later, he said.

“Eclipse happens as the sun is blocked by the moon. It is not like that anything happens within the sun during an eclipse. But obviously, our mission is also collecting data about the sun before, during and after an eclipse, Mr. Somnath said, while answering a question on whether the mission will throw light on the solar eclipse.

Speaking about collaborations with other space agencies, he said ISRO is building a joint satellite NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar).

Hyderabad:

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath on Wednesday said that the space program has built “indigenous capability” in space sector adding that they have their own programs and ways to decide what to do with that in future.

S Somanath today visited Kalam’s Institute of Youth Excellence in Hyderabad and facilitated students.

“The space program has built indigenous capability in the space sector from building our rockets, satellites and our application programs to serve the country in civilian and strategic sectors. We have accomplished that. Today, we are a force to reckon with in the space sector and we have our own programs and ways to decide what to do with that in future. That is the power we have today. Now, with the opening of the space sector, private companies and start-ups are coming and this area is going to expand in terms of economic activity in space sector. The change is what is happening now,” he said.

Further, S Somanath said that Kalam’s Institute of Youth Excellence have been working hard to inspire young people.

“They have been working very hard to inspire young people especially to what Kalam did in the past, creating an inspirational story around India’s growth. Today I got the opportunity to interact with the students and I believe it will make them easier to understand the path they will take in the space sector. ISRO will help in best possible way to help them,” he said.

Earlier, Director General of European Space Agency (ESA), Josef Aschbacher, heaped praise on the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its recent successful launches and said that India’s accomplishments in space and especially in lunar exploration is ‘astonishing’.

Aschbacher posted an appreciation post on X, after ESA hosted its 323rd Council meeting in Paris which was attended by the ISRO Chairman, S Somanath.

“What India is accomplishing in space – especially in Lunar exploration – is astonishing. We hosted ISRO’s Chairman, Dr. S. Somanath at ESA Council today. It was a milestone occasion for Delegates to learn more about current and future plans for ESA-ISRO cooperation,” he posted on X.

India is now the first nation to reach near the Moon’s unexplored South Pole and ranks amongst the top four nations to carry out a soft landing on the lunar surface.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath has said that ‘Gaganyaan’, the country’s first human space flight programme, is expected to be launched by the end of 2025.

The nation will have a space station by the year 2035. The ISRO is already working on Chandrayaan-4 to retrieve samples from the moon, he said after receiving the Sree Sankara Award instituted by the Adi Sankara Trust at a programme held at Sree Sarada Vidyalaya, Kalady, on Saturday.

Adi Sankara Trust managing trustee K. Anand presented the award, comprising ₹1 lakh, citation, and a memento, to Mr. Somanath. The ISRO chief handed over the money for the welfare programmes of the trust, according to a release.

He also inaugurated the Sarada Progressive Advanced Research Collaboration at Sree Sarada Vidyalaya on the occasion.