Context:
On August 23, 2024, India is commemorating its first-ever National Space Day (NSpD-2024) with the theme “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga.”
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The Indian Space Policy – 2023 is a comprehensive framework that outlines India’s vision and goals for its space program. It aims to promote sustainable space exploration, development, and utilisation for the benefit of the nation and humanity. The specific initiatives outlined in the policy include: Establishment of a Space Commission, Development of a National Space Policy Framework, Promotion of Space Startups, Investment in Space Research and Development and International Partnerships.
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More about NSPD
- This day has been officially designated to commemorate the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which took place on August 23, 2023.
- This mission marked a significant milestone, making India the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon and the first to land near its southern polar region.
- The Chandrayaan-3 and Chandrayaan-2 landing sites are named ‘Shiv Shakti’ and ‘Tiranga’ respectively.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will organise several educational initiatives, including the Bharathiya Antariksh Hackathon 2024 and the ISRO Robotics Challenge.
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Indian Achievements
- India’s space journey began with the establishment of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962, which was later renamed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969.
- First Satellite: Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, was launched on April 19, 1975, using Russia’s Kosmos-3M launch vehicle.
- Launch Vehicles: The Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV-3), India’s first experimental satellite launch vehicle, was launched in 1980. Its success led to the development of advanced launch vehicles, including the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and LVM3.
- In June 2020, the Government of India announced the creation of IN-SPACe as an autonomous agency under the Department of Space, designed to foster an ecosystem for industry, academia, and start-ups.
- On November 25, 2022, M/s Agnikul Cosmos Pvt. Ltd. of Chennai established the first private launchpad and mission control centre within the ISRO campus at SDSC, SHAR.
Chandrayaan Missions:
- Chandrayaan-1, India’s first moon mission, was launched in 2008.
- Chandrayaan-2, India’s initial attempt to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, was launched in 2019 using GSLV MkIII-M1.
- Chandrayaan-3, launched in 2023, successfully landed a spacecraft near the lunar south pole, making India the first country to do so.
- Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM): Launched in 2013, MoM marked India’s first interplanetary mission.
- It made India the fourth space agency, after Roscosmos, NASA, and the European Space Agency, to reach Mars orbit, and the first to do so on its maiden attempt.
- 104 Satellites in a Single Flight: In 2017, PSLV-C37 launched 104 satellites simultaneously, including the 714 kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite and 103 co-passenger satellites.
- Aditya-L1 Mission: Launched in September 2023, Aditya-L1 is India’s first space-based mission dedicated to studying the Sun.
- Gaganyaan Mission: An ongoing project to send a three-person crew to a 400 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD): A challenging project aimed at developing key technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle to enable cost-effective space access.
- Cryogenic Technology: In 2003, ISRO successfully tested its first cryogenic engine, making India one of only six countries to develop its own cryogenic engines.
- Scramjet Engines: Advanced over ramjet engines, scramjet engines are designed to operate efficiently at hypersonic speeds, allowing for supersonic combustion.
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