V Narayanan outlines ISRO’s mega space projects at Osmania University convocation

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan announced plans to launch a 75,000 kg payload satellite using a 40-storey rocket, build a 52-tonne space station by 2035, and triple India’s satellites in orbit, while unveiling projects during Osmania University’s 84th convocation

Hyderabad: ISRO is planning to launch a 75,000 kg payload satellite into low earth orbit using a towering rocket as high as a 40-storey building, said V Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO.

Delivering Osmania University’s 84th convocation here on Tuesday, Dr Narayanan said, “Right now, we are working on a next-generation launcher. Do you know what is the capacity of the rocket? The first launcher, built by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam ji, had a 17-tonne lift-off mass and was capable of placing 35 kg in low earth orbit. Today, we are conceiving a rocket to place 75,000 kg in low earth orbit. The rocket will be as tall as a 40-storey building.”

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Dr Narayanan said ISRO has lined up projects such as the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system satellite and the N1 rocket this year. The space agency will also be placing a 6,500 kg communication satellite of the USA into orbit using Indian rockets, he said.

By 2035, a 52-tonne mass space station is going to be built, even as ISRO is working on the Venus Orbiter Mission, he said.

Detailing the space agency’s plans, Dr Narayanan said ISRO will also shortly launch the Technology Demonstration Satellite (TDS) and GSAT-7R, an Indian military communication satellite designed for the Indian Navy. This military satellite will replace the existing GSAT-7 (Rukmini) satellite.

Stating that India has 55 satellites in orbit right now, Narayanan said the number will be increased threefold in another three to four years.

Narrating the sequence of events prior to astronaut Subhashnu Shukla’s successful journey to the International Space Station and return, he said the original project was scheduled for June 11. However, a day before the launch, a team led by him identified a leakage in the rocket, and it was postponed to June 25.

“And if the rocket had taken off then, it would have been a catastrophic failure. Based on the insistence of Indians, the Indian education system, and ISRO training, the fault was corrected. Today we have accomplished a safe mission, not only for Subhashnu Shukla, but also for three more international astronauts,” he said.

A total of 1,265 PhDs, along with 121 gold medals, were awarded to candidates during the convocation. OU Chancellor and Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Vice Chancellor Prof M Kumar, deans, principals and faculty also participated in the event.