Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, chaired a high-level review of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s major upcoming space missions for 2025, alongside outgoing Dr S Somnath, chairman, ISRO, his successor Dr V Narayanan, and other senior officials, including Pawan Kumar Goenka, chairman, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
ISRO is gearing up for a busy first half of 2025, with a line-up of significant missions showcasing technological prowess and international collaboration. Among the highlights is the launch of Gaganyaan’s uncrewed orbital test mission. This critical endeavour will pave the way for India’s human spaceflight program, aiming to validate systems for crew safety and recovery.
In addition, two geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) missions, a commercial launch of Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), and the much-anticipated ISRO- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) collaboration on NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite are slated for the coming months. The GSLV-F15 mission in January 2025 will carry the NVS-02 navigation satellite to augment the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), bolstering India’s positioning and navigation capabilities with indigenously developed atomic clocks.
Further, in February 2025, the GSLV-F16 mission will launch NISAR, a sophisticated Earth observation satellite co-developed with NASA. Equipped with advanced radar imaging technology, NISAR will provide critical data on agriculture, natural disasters, and climate monitoring.
Furthermore, the commercial LVM3-M5 mission, set for March 2025, will deploy BlueBird Block-2 satellites under a contract with the U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile. This underscores ISRO’s growing stature in the global space market.
Dr Singh lauded ISRO’s strides in fostering innovation and advancing India’s position as a space-faring nation. He emphasised the importance of public-private collaboration in fuelling the country’s space ambitions. Meanwhile, Dr S Somnath, reflecting on his tenure, expressed confidence in the upcoming missions, while Dr V Narayanan outlined a strategic roadmap for expanding ISRO’s global footprint.
As India prepares to script another chapter in space exploration, the success of these missions will not only enhance technological capabilities but also cement the country’s reputation as a leader in space science. For the millions following these developments, 2025 promises to be a landmark year for ISRO and Indian science. Moreover, with ambitious projects on the horizon, including the first ‘uncrewed’ orbital mission under ‘Gaganyaan’, India’s space exploration efforts are poised for ground-breaking achievements.
