ISRO’s 2024 Missions Promise a Year of Space Exploration

Dive into the list of ISRO's new exciting missions for 2024 to explore the cosmos

ISRO's Chairman, S. Somnath, has announced the organization's lofty ambitions for space exploration in the next year, 2024. The Indian Space Research Organization plans at least 12 satellite launches, a big step forward in its efforts.

The accomplishments of 2023, including the successful Chandrayaan mission and the launch of Aditya-L1 towards the Sun, laid the groundwork for ISRO's sustained greatness. Chairman Somnath said, "We are planning at least 12 missions for the year 2024." Notably, ISRO's hardware skills and testing ability were highlighted by the successful launch of the first polarimetry mission, Ex-ray Polarimeter (EXPoSat).

ISRO's recent success with the Chandrayaan 3 project and the launch of India's first solar observation mission, Aditya L1, sets the way for an exciting year ahead. India's grasp of outer space is ready to achieve new heights as the organization embarks on a series of space missions in 2024, fueled by innovation, cooperation, and a dedication to pushing the frontiers of space capabilities.

Here we listed out some of the ISRO 2024 missions for space exploration.

Gaganyaan 1

The Gaganyaan 1 mission, a collaboration between ISRO and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), is scheduled to launch in January or February 2024. This test flight, which can accommodate three crew members, is an important step towards India's Human Spaceflight Programme. The mission's goal is to establish India as a prominent player in human spaceflight endeavours by preparing for future manned space exploration.

Mangalyaan-2 (MOM 2)

Mangalyaan-2, also known as Mars Orbiter Project 2 (MOM 2), is ISRO's ambitious follow-up project to its successful Mars expedition. This mission will outfit the orbiter spacecraft with modern scientific instruments like as a hyperspectral camera, magnetometer, and radar to research the surface, atmosphere, and climatic aspects of Mars. MOM 2 demonstrates India's growing expertise in planetary exploration.

PSLV-C58 with XPoSat

On January 1, 2024, India launches the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C58), carrying XPoSat, the country's first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite. This scientific mission, which is scheduled to launch at 9:10 a.m., will explore the polarization of powerful X-ray sources, putting India at the forefront of space-based polarimetry. XPoSat will investigate 50 of the universe's brightest known sources, delving into the mysteries of pulsars, black hole X-ray binaries, and other phenomena.

INSAT-3DS

The INSAT-3DS is a critical communication satellite of the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) series, with a planned launch in January 2024. Its principal objective is to monitor weather systems, aid in disaster management, and enhance weather forecasts. This satellite, carried out by GSLV-MK-II, is expected to improve India's capabilities in weather monitoring and emergency response.

X-ray Polarimeter Satellite

The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, which will launch in 2024, will study the polarisation of cosmic X-rays. It will be operational for at least five years, observing pulsars, black hole X-ray binaries, active galactic nuclei, and non-thermal supernova leftovers. This mission will contribute to a better knowledge of the cosmos by providing critical insights into the physics of celestial objects.

Shukrayaan-1

ISRO intends to launch Shukrayaan-1, a spacecraft that will circle Venus for five years, as part of the Venus Orbiter Mission. This ambitious mission, slated for December 2024 or 2025, intends to explore Venus's atmosphere, marking India's first venture into the secrets of the Sun's second planet.

As of November 2023, 523 startups and businesses had interacted with IN-SPACe, ISRO's commercial arm, with 297 requesting R&D and testing assistance. The increase in private engagement comes as a result of the government's determination to open up the space industry, ushering in a new era of innovation and collaboration. This partnership between government and business sector groups is catapulting India's space exploration capabilities to unprecedented heights.

NISAR

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), which is set to launch in January 2024, is a ground-breaking partnership between NASA and ISRO. This dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar spacecraft, which will map the world every 12 days, will transform remote sensing. The information it collects will be useful in understanding Earth's ecosystems, ice mass, plant biomass, sea level rise, groundwater, and natural dangers such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.