Space and Beyond: The Rise of ISRO | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

The Rise of ISRO

• National Space Day was recently observed to celebrate the Vikram Lander’s successful Moon landing on August 23, 2023. The Chandrayaan-3 mission marked India as the fourth nation to achieve a lunar landing and the first to reach the Moon's southern polar region. This event underscores India’s space exploration advancements and aims to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEM fields, contributing to the country's space endeavors.

Recent Major Developments in India’s Space Sector

1. Chandrayaan-3 Findings: The terrain around Chandrayaan-3's landing site is relatively flat, with evidence suggesting a former magma sea beneath the lunar surface. The Moon’s crust appears to have formed in layers, supporting the lunar magma ocean hypothesis. Additionally, the topsoil near the lunar south pole has a high concentration of minerals that make up the lower layers of the Moon's crust.

2. Aditya-L1 Mission: Launched in September 2023, the Aditya-L1 solar observatory is positioned at the first Earth-Sun Lagrange point (L1) to study the Sun. It completed its first orbit around L1 in July 2024 and has significantly advanced our understanding of solar storms.

3. XPoSat Launch: In January 2024, ISRO launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) to study radiation polarization in space. This satellite is the second of its kind, following NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IPEX), launched in 2021.

4. Gaganyaan TV-D1 Test: ISRO conducted the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) to test the Crew Escape System (CES) for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. The test validated vehicle separation, crew module safety, and deceleration before splashdown in the Bay of Bengal.

5. RLV-TD Experiments: ISRO performed two landing experiments with a scaled-down version of the Reusable Launch Vehicle, Pushpak, in March and June 2024. These tests, conducted using a Chinook helicopter, evaluated landing performance.

6. SSLV Development: In August 2024, ISRO conducted the third and final development flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), successfully launching the EOS-08 and SR-0 Demosat satellites into orbit. With two consecutive successful flights, SSLV development is complete, and the vehicle is being transitioned to industry.

7. Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM): Launched in 2013 aboard PSLV-C25, India's MOM is the country's first interplanetary mission. ISRO successfully placed the spacecraft in Mars orbit and continues to study Martian surface features, mineralogy, and atmosphere.

8. Private Space Missions: In March 2024, Agnikul Cosmos achieved its first SoRTeD-01 vehicle launch, powered by a semi-cryogenic engine. Skyroot Aerospace is preparing for its Vikram 1 launch vehicle, while Dhruva Space and Bellatrix Aerospace conducted payload experiments using the fourth stage of the PSLV-C58 mission in January 2024.

Upcoming Space Missions by ISRO

1. Chandrayaan-4: Scheduled for 2027, this mission will focus on returning lunar samples to Earth. It will involve five modules, including two landing modules to collect samples and a return module to bring them back to Earth.

2. Gaganyaan Mission: The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate human spaceflight by sending a crew of three to a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for three days. ISRO is training astronaut-candidates, known as Gaganyatris, and will conduct at least four more abort tests before the first uncrewed flight in late 2024. The project also includes plans to establish the Bhartiya Antriksh Station (BAS) by 2035.

3. Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV): To support the BAS and future lunar missions, ISRO is developing the NGLV, a three-stage rocket with semi-cryogenic, liquid, and cryogenic engines designed to handle heavier payloads.

4. NISAR: The NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) mission, a joint project with NASA, will map the globe every 12 days to study changes in Earth's ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation, sea level, groundwater, and natural hazards.

Major Challenges in India’s Space Sector

1. Limited Budget: India's space budget, approximately USD 1.7 billion for 2023-24, is much smaller compared to other major space agencies like NASA, which has a budget of USD 25.3 billion.

2. Technology Gap: Despite progress, India still faces a technology gap in advanced areas such as human spaceflight, reusable launch vehicles, and deep space exploration.

3. Private Sector Participation: The Indian space sector remains predominantly government-run, with limited private sector involvement. Start-ups face challenges in securing late-stage funding, and no unicorns have emerged yet.

4. Commercial Viability: Developing a commercially viable space industry beyond government contracts is challenging. India’s share of the global commercial space market is around 2-3%, despite the market being valued at about USD 630 billion.

5. Underdeveloped Domestic Supply Chain: India’s space sector relies heavily on imports for essential components, leading to higher costs and potential risks to program schedules and national security. In FY 2021-22, imports amounted to Rs 2,114 crore, while exports were Rs 174.9 crore.

6. Infrastructure and Manufacturing: Advanced manufacturing capabilities for critical space technologies are lacking, with many high-end sensors and electronic components still imported.

7. International Collaboration: India's involvement in major international space projects, such as the International Space Station, is limited due to geopolitical factors.

8. Space Debris Management: Managing space debris is increasingly crucial as India’s space activities expand. As of 2023, 82 rocket bodies from Indian launches were in orbit, with debris from past missions still present.

9. Regulatory Framework: The regulatory environment for private space activities is evolving, with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) established in 2020 to regulate the sector.

10. Insufficient Academia-Industry-Government Collaboration: Collaboration between academia, industry, and government is limited, with few patents resulting from such partnerships. Improved interaction between ISRO and universities is needed to foster innovation.

Way Forward

1. Increase Budget Allocation: A higher budget would facilitate more extensive research, development, and implementation of advanced technologies. The 2024-25 budget includes an 18% increase for the Department of Space.

2. Boost Private Sector Participation: Implementing the Indian Space Policy 2023 and providing venture capital funding for space start-ups will encourage private sector growth. Public-private partnerships can drive innovation and efficiency.

3. Focus on Technology Development: Investing in R&D for critical technologies, such as reusable launch vehicles and advanced propulsion systems, is essential for reducing costs and enhancing capabilities.

4. Human Resource Development: Enhancing space education programs and creating exchange opportunities with global space agencies will build a skilled workforce and facilitate knowledge sharing.

5. Enhance Manufacturing Capabilities: Strategic partnerships and technology transfer can advance India’s manufacturing capabilities in specialized space technologies.

6. International Collaboration: Participation in global space initiatives, such as the Artemis Accords, will enhance India's access to training, technology, and scientific opportunities.

7. Commercialization of Space Services: Developing commercial applications for space technology and supporting space tourism could create new revenue streams and position India as a leader in this emerging market.

8. Space Debris Management: Investing in space debris removal and mitigation technologies is crucial for sustainable space operations. ISRO aims to conduct debris-free missions by 2030.