4 launch pads by 2029! ISRO reveals a massive space plan with a Gaganyaan surprise

Launchpad revolution

India's space ambitions are getting a massive upgrade! ISRO Chairman V Narayanan has announced plans to have four functional launch pads by 2029 as the country prepares for a surge in satellite launches. A new 2,000-acre spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu will focus on small satellite missions. But where will the remaining launch pads be located? ISRO has yet to reveal those details.

Private push

Is ISRO going private? Not at all, says its chairman! Narayanan has made it clear that the national space agency will not be privatised. However, private companies and startups will play a much bigger role in India's space ambitions. ISRO plans to transfer technology, support emerging businesses and expand commercial operations, potentially creating thousands of high-tech jobs.

Gaganyaan countdown

India's first human spaceflight mission is approaching another crucial milestone! ISRO plans to conduct its first uncrewed Gaganyaan test within two months of Narayanan's announcement, followed by two more uncrewed missions before astronauts fly. With approximately 8,000 ground experiments already conducted and four astronaut-designates undergoing specialised training, the upcoming tests will put safety and crew escape systems under scrutiny.

Moon ambition

India's next lunar mission could take Moon exploration to another level! ISRO is planning Chandrayaan-5 in collaboration with Japan's space agency, featuring a massive 350-kg rover designed to operate on the lunar surface for 100 days. The ambitious mission aims to conduct extended scientific experiments, showing how India's space programme is looking beyond short-duration lunar exploration.