ISRO's 2024 Space Missions Overview

PSLV-C59 Mission

The PSLV-C59 mission launched the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit. The mission demonstrated the ability of ISRO's PSLV to launch a spacecraft into complex orbits. The launch took place from Satish Dhawan Space Center on December 5, 2024.

Gaganyaan Mission Preparations

ISRO has begun assembling the human-rated LVM-3 (HLVM-3) for its first uncrewed mission, marking a significant milestone for the Gaganyaan mission, India's human spaceflight initiative. This follows earlier successful tests of reentry characteristics using the Crew-module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE).

PSLV-C60 Mission

• The PSLV-C60 mission is set to launch on December 30, 2024, carrying satellites SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target).
• These satellites will demonstrate in-orbit docking, leading to ISRO's Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX).
• The mission will also carry 20-plus payloads from various ISRO centers, academia, and Indian private companies.

PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-4)

POEM-4 will carry 24 payloads, including the 'Walking Robotic Arm' and the Debris Capture Robotic Manipulator, to demonstrate advanced technologies in space.

Biological and Communication Experiments

• The Amity Plant Experimental Module in Space (APEMS) will study plant growth in microgravity.
• RVSat-1 will measure the growth of the gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron in space.
• Communication payloads like BGS ARPIT and Swetchasat will test amateur radio and UHF communication capabilities.

Propulsion and Imaging Payloads

• RUDRA 1.0 and VYOM 2U will test new propulsion systems.
• SAR Imaging Demonstration Payloads GLX-SQ and Varuna will explore synthetic aperture radar capabilities.

Upcoming in 2025

The year 2025 is expected to be pivotal, featuring the first uncrewed HLVM-3 missions, a potential Indian astronaut on the ISS, and the NASA-ISRO SAR mission.