Talk about far reaching ambitions and it seems that ISRO is set upon giving a new definition to the word “far”. As discovered through the new budget documents, the space research organization will attempt to send missions to both Venus and Mars, soon.
While the Indian Space Research Organization has sojourned to Mars earlier, it would mark the first time that it sent out tendrils to Venus. Details of the trip were hidden in the pages of the new electronic budget documents and are the first formal acknowledgement of the government’s interest in these planets.
And we can expect ISRO to be able to pull these missions off a well. While the organization has always been good at what it does, the last couple of years have seen it grow at an exemplary pace. For example, on the 15th of February, the organization will attempt to launch over 104 satellites to space in a single mission. The milestone has not been achieved in living memory and the previous record-holder Russia, only managed to send 37 satellites using a modified inter-continental missile.
ISRO will attempt to improve the record in a major way on the 15th, when a PSLV rocket will attempt to take 3 Indian and 101 foreign satellites to space and establish them there in one go.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has not stood by idly and watched the organization either. Prime Minister Modi is known to be an avid supporter of the organization and the recent budget reflects the government’s commitment to have ISRO expand. As per the latest budget to make its way out of the finance ministry, the department of space has been given a 23 per cent increase in its budget.
India’s second mission to the red planet could also see it attempt to put a rover on the surface. Slated for 2021-2022, the mission will see India expand upon its existing mars missions. ISRO’s forays have also attracted international attention and Michael M Watkins, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA, said that his organization would be very eager to put a telematics module on the yet to be sent Indian satellite so that NASA’s rovers and the Indian satellites are able to engage in conversation.
NASA could also be involved with India’s Venus mission, which is likely to be a orbiter. Together, the two behemoths could jointly study the use of electrical propulsion to send the orbiter on its way.
Speaking on the topic, K Kasturirangan, former chairman of Isro, said:
India should be part of this global adventure and exploring Venus and Mars is very worthwhile since humans definitely need another habitation beyond Earth.
Speaking about the country’s drive to send multiple satellites into space, he said:
India has the capability putting several satellites in a single launch and demonstrating that capability is certainly not bad as it adds to India’s credibility and then later if Isro deploys this capability of formation flying in a constellation of its own satellites it would be a useful addition to its arsenal.
Sending multiple satellites will also allow it to enter a very lucrative market as a competitor in its own right.
With increasing interest in space, companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are attempting to offer affordable passage to the outer reaches of the earth and beyond. ISRO has already proved capable of both offering competitive pricing, as well as unparalleled safety. The organization has already come up as one of the most affordable and viable options for carting satellites into space.
With a research team comprised of the best minds in the country, as well as enviable infrastructure and knowledge base to boot, the organization could well take the third-party propulsion market by storm.
