Upcoming ISRO Missions (2024-2028)

1. Gaganyaan Program (India’s First Human Spaceflight Mission)

The Gaganyaan program is India’s ambitious project to send astronauts into space. It consists of three key missions:

a. Gaganyaan-1 (Uncrewed Test Flight)
Launch Date: February 2025
Objective:Test the Gaganyaan spacecraft in orbit before sending humans.
Carry a humanoid robot Vyommitra to simulate astronaut activities.
Validate life support and safety systems.

b. Gaganyaan-2 (Second Uncrewed Test Flight)
Launch Date: Mid-2025
Objective:Conduct further tests on the spacecraft’s heat shield, landing systems, and emergency escape system.

c. Gaganyaan-3 (Crewed Mission)
Launch Date: Early 2026
Objective:First Indian astronauts in space (expected to be 2-3 astronauts).
Stay in low-Earth orbit (~400 km altitude) for 3–7 days.
Conduct scientific experiments in microgravity.
Why it’s important?
Gaganyaan will make India the fourth country to send humans to space after the USA, Russia, and China.


2. NISAR Mission (ISRO-NASA Collaboration)
Launch Date: First quarter of 2025
Objective:NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is a joint mission between NASA and ISRO.
It will monitor Earth’s land, forests, and ice caps with high precision.
Help in disaster management, climate change studies, and natural resource management.
Why it’s important?
NISAR will be the world’s first radar imaging satellite that can monitor changes on Earth’s surface as small as 1 cm

3. Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX)
Launch Date: January 7, 2025
Objective:Demonstrate India’s ability to dock two satellites in orbit.
This is a key technology for future space stations and interplanetary missions.
Why it’s important?
It is a crucial step for ISRO’s future space station, which is expected to be operational by 2035.


4. AstroSat-2 (India’s Space Telescope)
Launch Date: January 1, 2025
Objective:Follow-up mission of AstroSat-1, India’s first space telescope.
Observe black holes, neutron stars, and distant galaxies in multiple wavelengths.
Why it’s important?
This will enhance India’s capabilities in space astronomy and help study cosmic phenomena.


5. Chandrayaan-4 (Lunar Sample Return Mission)
Launch Date: 2027–2028
Objective:Collect and return lunar soil and rock samples from the Moon’s surface.
Study lunar geology and look for water ice deposits.
Why it’s important?

India will join the USA, China, and Russia in bringing Moon samples back to Earth.
Helps in preparing for future Moon colonization missions.

6. Venus Orbiter Mission (Shukrayaan-1)
Launch Date: March 2028
Objective:Study Venus’s atmosphere, surface, and climate conditions.
Understand why Venus had a runaway greenhouse effect.
Why it’s important?

Venus is often called Earth’s twin, but it became extremely hot and toxic.
Studying Venus can help us understand climate change on Earth.

7. Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Chandrayaan-5)
Launch Date: 2028–2029
Objective:A joint mission between ISRO (India) and JAXA (Japan).
Explore the Moon’s south pole, where water ice deposits exist.
Deploy a rover to drill and analyze lunar soil.
Why it’s important?

The Moon’s south pole is the key for future human colonization.
Water ice on the Moon can be used for astronauts, fuel, and food production.

8. Mars Lander Mission (Mangalyaan-2)

Launch Date: 2028
Objective:India’s second Mars mission, following Mangalyaan-1.
It will include a lander, a rover, and even a helicopter.
Study Mars’s climate, soil, and atmospheric conditions.
Why it’s important?

India will attempt its first-ever landing on Mars.
Helps in understanding Mars’s past water history and potential for life.

Why ISRO’s Upcoming Missions Matter?
Strengthening India’s Space Leadership → Competing with the USA, Russia, China, and Europe.
Boosting Global Space Collaboration → NASA, JAXA, ESA, and other agencies are working with ISRO.
Inspiring Young Scientists → Creating more interest in space science in India.
Economic Benefits → Growing India’s commercial space industry with startups like Skyroot & Agnikul.