Sriharikota: In an ambitious move, ISRO is gearing up for a series of thrilling missions over the next few months. Chairman S Somanath made the announcement from Sriharikota on July 30, revealing exciting plans for the space agency.

The ISRO successfully deploying seven Singaporean satellites into their designated orbits aboard the reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). However, this is just the beginning, as ISRO has more in store.

Chairman Somanath shared some insights into the upcoming launch campaigns by the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency. He revealed, "We have another PSLV mission scheduled for August or early September. Additionally, we are working on the Gaganyaan test vehicle, which is currently undergoing integration."

The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 kilometers for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to Earth, with a planned landing in Indian sea waters.

Meanwhile, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre is buzzing with activity following the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 on July 14. Scientists are currently engaged in orbit-raising maneuvers, and the rocket is set to embark on its journey towards the Moon on August 1 after leaving Earth's orbit. The challenging soft landing on the lunar surface is scheduled for August 23 at 5.47 p.m.

Chairman Somanath, who also serves as the Secretary of the Department of Space, elaborated on ISRO's future plans, stating, "We are also planning to launch the SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) in its third developmental mission, as well as the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) mission for launching the INSAT-3DS. Our schedule for this year is packed with activity."

The SSLV, ISRO's sixth launch vehicle, has already undergone two successful development flights in August 2022 and February of this year. With these exciting missions on the horizon, ISRO is all set to make significant strides in space exploration.

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