Year End Review of Department of Space-2023

Indian Space Research Organisation achieved the historic milestone of landing the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft near the south pole of Moon. India has become first country in the globe to accomplish this
Government approves the Space Policy 2023
Indian government signed the Artemis Accord
Space Economy Leaders Meeting (SELM) under G20 Presidency organised by Department of Space
The second developmental flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) successfully launched. The technology is offered for Indian industry to scale it up
Next Generation Launch Vehicle LVM3 placed 72 one web satellites successfully in a record time.
A series of tests for Gaganyaan have been planned and out of which some of the tests incl. first test vehicle to re-entry and recover the crew module safely is completed.
ISRO successfully launched Aditya L1 space craft to study the Sun and its effect in heliosphere
ISRO demonstrated the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) for future human space programms

Chandrayaan-3 Mission

LVM3 M4 vehicle successfully launched Chandrayaan-3 into its precise orbit on 14^th July, 2023.

Chandrayaan-3 Landing

On 23^rd Aug, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 lander, Vikram, successfully soft-landed on the Moon. Subsequently, the rover, Pragyan, ramped down on the lunar surface. Over the next few days, several experiments, such as measurement of near-surface plasma content, presence of mineral elements, temperature profile of the lunar topsoil, etc. were conducted by the onboard payloads.

Prime Minister interacts with ISRO Scientists

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited ISTRAC, Bengaluru on 26^th August 2023 to meet ISRO Scientist and applauded the efforts put by them to achieve the marvellous feat. He declared that 23^rd August ie the landing date of Chandrayaan-3 will be celebrated as National Space Day. He also announced the names of the site on the moon as Shiv Shakti point (Chandrayaan-3) and Tiranga point (Chandrayaan-2)

Second Developmental Flight of SSLV-D2/EOS-07 Mission

The second developmental flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), SSLV-D2 was successfully launched on February 10, 2023 at 09:18 hours IST from the first launch pad at SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. SSLV-D2 injected EOS-07, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into 450 km circular orbit, in its 15 minutes’ flight. SSLV can cater to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to Low Earth Orbits on “launch-on-demand” basis. It provides low-cost access to Space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure.

Indian Space Policy – 2023

The Indian Space Policy-2023 was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security and released in public domain. The Policy underwent extensive deliberations with industry groups and inter-ministerial consultations.

Space Economy Leaders Meeting (SELM)- under G20 Presidency

Under India’s G20 Presidency, the 4^th edition of the Space Economy Leaders Meeting (SELM) was successfully organized by Department of Space. Ambassadors / Heads of Space Agencies / Representatives attended from 18 G20 nations and 8 friendly countries to deliberate current issues and opportunities in global Space. The meeting was organised in two phases i.e. precursor event at Shillong and Main event at Bengaluru. In addition to diplomats, 34 space industries from abroad and 53 Indian space industries actively participated and showcased their competencies in the exhibition

LVM3 M3/OneWeb Mission

Second commercial mission of LVM3 M3/OneWeb India-2 Mission was successfully accomplished on 26^th March, 2023, placing 36 OneWeb satellites into their intended orbit. With this, NSIL successfully executed its contract to launch 72 satellites of OneWeb to Low Earth Orbit.

RLV LEX Mission

ISRO demonstrated the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) on 2^nd April, 2023 at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka. The autonomous landing was carried out under the exact conditions of a Space Re-entry vehicle’s landing “high speed, unmanned, precise landing from the same return path” as if the vehicle arrives from space. Landing parameters such as Ground relative velocity, the sink rate of Landing Gears, and precise body rates, as might be experienced by an orbital re-entry space vehicle in its return path, were achieved. The RLV LEX demanded several state-of-the-art technologies including accurate Navigation hardware and software, Pseudolite system, Ka-band Radar Altimeter, NavIC receiver, indigenous Landing Gear, Aerofoil honey-comb fins and brake parachute system

PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 mission

PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 mission was successfully accomplished on 22^nd April, 2023. This was a dedicated commercial mission through NSIL with TeLEOS-2 as primary satellite and Lumelite-4 as a co-passenger satellite. The satellites weigh about 741 kg and 16 kg, respectively. Both belong to Singapore. They were launched into an Eastward low inclination orbit

GSLV-F12/NVS-01 Mission

The mission was successfully accomplished on 29^th May, 2023. GSLV deployed the NVS-01 navigation satellite. NVS-01 is the first of the second-generation satellites envisaged for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) services. NVS series of satellites will sustain and augment the NavIC with enhanced features. This series incorporates L1 band signals additionally to widen the services. For the first time, an indigenous atomic clock will be flown in NVS-01.

Gaganyaan Service Module Hot tests

ISRO successfully tested the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) on July 19, 2023 at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) , Mahendragiri. This test involved five liquid apogee motor (LAM) engines with a thrust of 440 N and sixteen reaction control system (RCS) Thrusters with a thrust of 100 N. The Service Module of Gaganyaan is a regulated bi-propellant based propulsion system that caters to the requirements of the Orbital Module, performing orbit injection, circularization, on-orbit control, de-boost manoeuvring and SM based abort (if any) during the ascent phase. The 440 N Thrust LAM engines provide the main propulsive force during the mission ascending phase, while the RCS thrusters ensure precise attitude correction. ISRO successfully carried out two more hot tests on the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri on July 26, 2023.

Crew Module Recovery trials

On February 7, 2023, ISRO, along with Indian Navy carried out initial recovery trials of Crew Module in the Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF) of the Indian Navy, at Kochi. The trials were part of the preparation for crew module recovery operations for the Gaganyaan mission that will be carried out in Indian. As the safe recovery of the crew is the final step to be accomplished for any successful human spaceflight, it is of paramount importance and it has to be carried out with the minimum lapse of time. Hence the recovery procedures for various scenarios need to be extensively practiced by carrying out a large number of trials.

PSLV-C56/DS-SAR Mission

The mission was successfully accomplished on 30^th July, 2023. The DS-SAR satellite is developed under a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering. Once deployed and operational, it will be used to support the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Government of Singapore.

Aditya-L1 Mission

On September 02, 2023, Aditya-L1 spacecraft – India’s first solar observatory as launched on board PSLV C57. Aditya L1 is the first space based Indian mission to study the Sun. The spacecraft will be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth. A satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses. This will provide a greater advantage of observing the solar activities and its effect on space weather in real time. The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle and magnetic field detectors. Using the special vantage point L1, four payloads will directly view the Sun and the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1, thus providing important scientific studies of the propagatory effect of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium The spacecraft underwent a series of manoeuvers and is currently on its way to the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1(L1), having escaped the Earth’s Sphere of Influence.

Gaganyaan Test Vehicle-D1 launch

The first developmental flight of Test Vehicle (TV-D1) was successfully accomplished with the in-flight abort demonstration of the Crew Escape System (CES) on October 21, 2023 from FLP, SDSC, Sriharikota. In-flight Abort Demonstration of Crew Escape System (CES) at Mach number 1.2 with the newly developed Test Vehicle followed by Crew Module separation & safe recovery was successfully demonstrated. TV-D1 Crew Module was safely recovered from sea with the help of Indian Navy and transported back to ISITE, Bengaluru.

India signed the Artemis Accord

During a ceremony at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington on June 21, 2023 India became the 27^th country to sign the Artemis Accords. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson participated in the signing ceremony for the agency and Shri Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s Ambassador to the United States, signed on behalf of India. The Artemis Accords establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations, including those participating in NASA’s Artemis program.

YUVIKA-2023

Young Scientists Programme YUVIKA–2023 was inaugurated by Chairman ISRO / Secretary DoS Shri S Somanath on May 15, 2023. A total of 352 high school students from all across country are selected to participate in this two-weeks’ residential programme at 7 ISRO Centres viz. VSSC Trivandrum, SAC Ahmedabad, URSC Bengaluru, SDSC Sriharikota, NRSC Hyderabad, IIRS Dehradun and NE-SAC Shillong. ISRO’s YUVIKA for high school students concurs with the objectives of National Education Policy – 2020 for “catching the young” and orienting towards STEM with a special focus on Space Science and Technology.

Participation in Aero India 2023

ISRO participated in Aero India 2023 and established Indian Space Pavilion during 13^th to 17^th February, 2023. Key space technologies and equipment leveraging the defence space were showcased. Exhibits include SSLV, HRLV, Gaganyaan test vehicle, communication systems, and power systems. The Prime Minister was briefed by the Secretary, DOS /Chairman of ISRO on recent developments in space and critical technologies relevant to the defence space industry. DSA, ISpA, 25 start-ups, MSMEs, and corporates participated in the Defence Space Gallery.

Workshop on Space Situational awareness

A national level workshop on Space Situational Awareness & Space Traffic Management (SSA & STM) meant for Indian students, researchers, and faculty members was organised during October 12-14, 2023 at the ISRO Headquarters in Bengaluru. The workshop was attended by more than 200 students & academicians.

EOI for Technology transfer of SSLV

IN-SPACe released the Expression of Interest (EOI) for transferring the technology for producing Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) by industry.

Chintan Shivir

ISRO organised a two-day “Chintan Shivir” towards preparation of Space 2047: Vision & Technology Roadmap. More than 250 scientists deliberated on emerging technologies and future road maps

Programme on Geospatial technologies

ISRO / Department of Space has launched a Capacity Building Programme on “Geospatial Technologies and Applications” in tandem with objectives of National Geospatial Policy – 2022 on 21^st November 2023. First phase of the capacity building programme on “Geo-spatial Technologies and Applications” was inaugurated by the Minister of State, Department of Space, Government of India, Dr. Jitendra Singh in the presence of Secretary, Department of Space Sri S. Somanath, Chairman, Capacity Building Commission Shri Adil Zainulbhai and other senior dignitaries. 58 Participants from 29 Ministries and Departments of Government of India and various State Governments underwent this one-week programme at RRSC – North, NRSC at New Delhi & NE-SAC, Shillong.

New Space India Limited

NSIL signed contract with Indian Army for realization of GSAT-7B satellite and its ground segment
NSIL received supply order from DRDO for building 4 satellite flight model;1 satellite qualification model; launch on-board PSLV and tracking support
Under PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana), NSIL has been engaged by Dept. of Fisheries for National Rollout plan for installation of 1,00,000 MSS terminal on fishing vessels to establish vessel communication system for Monitoring, control and surveillance
NSIL commenced commercial services on GSAT-24 satellite for M/s TATA PLAY from 7^th Aug 2023 onwards
NSIL undertook 2^nd demand driven mission for realizing GSAT-N2 Ka-Ka band HTS satellite of ~ 48Gbps capacity, highest throughput capacity ever built by ISRO, to meet broadband requirements in the country including cellular backhaul and Inflight connectivity applications
Signed agreement with User for utilization of bulk of GSAT-N2 capacity
Signed Agreement with foreign launch service provide for launch during Q2-2024
Successfully accomplished three (3) dedicated Customer satellite mission Viz. LVM3-M3 / OneWeb India-2 Mission, PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 Mission and PSLV-C56/DS-SAR Mission
During 2023, NSIL successfully accomplished launch of 46 International Customer satellites onboard PSLV, LVM3 and SSLV
During 2023, NSIL has provided Three Launch Vehicle Tracking Supports and Two Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) support to International Customers as part of Mission support services
During 2023, NSIL has signed 15 Technology Transfer Agreements for transferring ISRO developed Technologies to Industry
Financials