ISRO’s biggest missions for 2025! from Gaganyaan spaceflight to Earth observation satellite, will India become Space leader in world?

India’s space exploration efforts are poised to achieve new heights in 2025, as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) gears up for a year filled with ambitious missions and technological breakthroughs. With a mix of commercial, exploratory, and human-rated flights, ISRO’s plans underline India’s growing prominence in the global space arena.

Gaganyaan Program: Pioneering Human Spaceflight

A significant milestone for ISRO in 2025 will be the G1 mission, the first uncrewed test flight under the Gaganyaan program. This mission will use the advanced Human-rated LVM3 (HRLV3), a crucial step towards making human spaceflight a reality for India.

G1 Flight: The uncrewed mission will carry Vyomitra, a humanoid, in a depressurized crew module. It will test critical systems and technologies, including the newly uprated C32 cryogenic upper-stage engine, which offers enhanced lifting capabilities.

Following G1, two more uncrewed flights (G2 and G3) are planned before the first crewed mission, H1. The program’s extended vision includes G4, a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), and G5, a mission to deploy the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS1).

India Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS)

Reliable communication is vital for human spaceflight missions. To address this, ISRO will launch the India Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS-1) in 2025 using GSLV Mk II.

What is IDRSS?

aIt is A network of communication satellites that relay data between spacecraft and ground stations. Ensures continuous communication for low-Earth orbit missions, reducing reliance on direct ground station contact. It also enhances data transmission rates and reliability.

IDRSS joins systems like NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) and Europe’s EDRS, marking a significant step forward for India in space communications.

Testing Safety: In-Flight Abort System (TVD2)

As part of ensuring astronaut safety, ISRO will conduct the Test Vehicle Demonstration 2 (TVD2) to validate the in-flight abort system for Gaganyaan.

It utilizes a modified Liquid Vikas stage (L40) of the GSLV Mk II as the test vehicle which aims to demonstrate the Crew Escape System (CES) at supersonic speeds, building on the success of TVD1.

NISAR: The Most Powerful Earth Observation Satellite

2025 will also witness the launch of NISAR, a joint venture between NASA and ISRO. Equipped with S-band and L-band synthetic aperture radars, capable of penetrating clouds and vegetation. It provides global coverage every 12 days, detecting movements as small as 1 cm. It also monitors environmental changes, including ice sheet collapses, sea-level rise, ecosystem disturbances, and natural hazards like earthquakes.

TDS01: Pushing the Boundaries of Space Technology

The Technology Demonstration Satellite (TDS01) will explore advanced space technologies, including electric propulsion. TDS01 will test 300mN stationary plasma thrusters (SPTs), showcasing their potential for orbit-raising maneuvers for geostationary satellites. These thrusters promise enhanced mission flexibility and efficiency, opening new possibilities for satellite operations.

As ISRO ventures into a packed 2025, ISRO’s missions underline India’s commitment to advancing space technology and exploration.