Cabinet’s approval of $2.7 billion in new funding for space
Bharatiya Anthariksh Station (BAS)
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 18 September 2024 approved the building of first unit of the Bharatiya Anthariksh Station by extending the scope of Gaganyaan programme. Approval by the cabinet was given for development of first module of Bharatiya Anthariksh Station (BAS–1) and missions to demonstrate and validate various technologies for building and operating BAS; to revise the scope and funding of the Gaganyaan Programme to include new developments for BAS and precursor missions, and additional requirements to meet the ongoing Gaganyaan Programme. Revision in Gaganyaan Programme is to include the scope of development and precursor missions for BAS, and factoring one additional uncrewed mission and additional hardware requirement for the developments of ongoing Gaganyaan Programme. Now the human spaceflight programme of technology development and demonstration is through eight missions to be completed by December 2028 by launching first unit of BAS–1. The Gaganyaan Programme approved in December 2018 envisages undertaking the human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and to lay the foundation of technologies needed for an Indian human space exploration programme in the long run. The vision for space in the Amrit Kaal envisages including other things, creation of an operational Bharatiya Anthariksh Station by 2035 and Indian Crewed Lunar Mission by 2040.
All leading space faring nations are making considerable efforts and investments to develop and operationalise capabilities that are required for long duration human space missions and further exploration to Moon and beyond. Gaganyaan Programme will be a national effort led by ISRO in collaboration with Industry, Academia and other National agencies as stake holders. The programme will be implemented through the established project management mechanism within ISRO. The target is to develop and demonstrate critical technologies for long duration human space missions. To achieve this goal, ISRO will undertake four missions under ongoing Gaganyaan Programme by 2026 and development of first module of BAS and four missions for demonstration and validation of various technologies for BAS by December 2028. The nation will acquire essential technological capabilities for human space missions to Low Earth Orbit. A national space based facility such as the Bharatiya Anthariksh Station will boost microgravity based scientific research and technology development activities. This will lead to technological spin–offs and encourage innovations in key areas of research and development. Enhanced industrial participation and economic activity in human space programme will result in increased employment generation, especially in niche high technology areas in space and allied sectors. With a net additional funding of Rs. 11,170 Crore in the already approved programme, the total funding for Gaganyaan Programme with the revised scope has been enhanced to Rs. 20,193 Crore. New re–usable low–cost launch vehicle The Union Cabinet has approved the development of Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) on 18 September 2024 that will be a significant step towards the Government’s vision of establishing and operating the Bharatiya Anthariksh Station and towards developing capability for Indian Crewed Landing on the Moon by 2040. NGLV will have 3 times the present payload capability with 1.5 times the cost compared to LVM3, and will also have reusability resulting in low–cost access to space and modular green propulsion systems. The goals of the Indian space programme during the Amrit Kaal require a new generation of human rated launch vehicles with high payload capability and reusability. With a net additional funding of Rs. 11,170 Crore in the already approved programme, the total funding for Gaganyaan Programme with the revised scope has been enhanced to Rs. 20,193 Crore.
New re–usable low–cost launch vehicle
ISRO’s LVM3
The Union Cabinet has approved the development of Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) on 18 September 2024 that will be a significant step towards the Government’s vision of establishing and operating the Bharatiya Anthariksh Station and towards developing capability for Indian Crewed Landing on the Moon by 2040. NGLV will have 3 times the present payload capability with 1.5 times the cost compared to LVM3, and will also have reusability resulting in low–cost access to space and modular green propulsion systems. The goals of the Indian space programme during the Amrit Kaal require a new generation of human rated launch vehicles with high payload capability and reusability. Hence, the development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) is taken up which is designed to have a maximum payload capability of 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit, which also has a reusable first stage. Currently, India has achieved self–reliance in space transportation systems to launch satellites up to 10 tonne to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 4 tonne to Geo–Synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) through the currently operational PSLV, GSLV, LVM3 and SSLV launch vehicles. The total fund approved is Rs. 8240 Crore and includes the development costs, three developmental flights, essential facility establishment, Programme Management and Launch Campaign.
India sights science goals on Venus with VOM
The Union Cabinet also approved the development of Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) that will be a significant step towards the Government’s vision of exploring and studying the Venus, beyond moon and mars. Venus, the closest planet to Earth and believed to have formed in conditions similar to Earth, offers a unique opportunity to understand how planetary environments can evolve very differently. The ‘Venus Orbiter Mission’ to be accomplished by Department of Space is envisaged to orbit a scientific spacecraft in the orbit of planet Venus for better understanding of the Venusian surface and subsurface, atmospheric processes and influence of Sun on Venusian atmosphere. The study of the underlying causes of transformation of Venus, which is believed to be once habitable and quite similar to Earth would be an invaluable aid in understanding the evolution of the sister planets, both Venus and Earth. ISRO will be responsible for the development of spacecraft and its launch.
The Project will be effectively managed and monitored through the established practices prevailing at ISRO. The data generated from the mission would be disseminated to the scientific community through existing mechanisms. The mission is expected to be accomplished on the opportunity available during March 2028. The Indian Venus mission is expected to answer some of the outstanding scientific questions resulting in various scientific outcomes. The realisation of the spacecraft and launch vehicle is through various industries and it is envisaged that there would be large employment potential and technology spin–off to other sectors of the economy. The total fund approved for the “Venus Orbiter Mission” (VOM), is Rs. 1236 Cr out of which Rs 824 Crore will be spent on the spacecraft. The cost includes development and realisation of the spacecraft including its specific payloads and technology elements, global ground station support cost for navigation and network as well as the cost of launch vehicle. The mission would enable India for future planetary missions with larger payloads, optimal orbit insertion approaches. There would be a significant involvement of Indian industry during the development of the spacecraft and launch vehicle. The involvement of various academic institutions and training to students in pre–launch phase that includes design, development, testing, test data reduction, calibration etc. is also envisaged. The mission through its unique instruments offers the Indian Science community new and valuable science data and thereby providing emerging and novel opportunities.
Left: Launch configuration of VOM and Right: On–Orbit configuration of VOM
India goes to Moon again: This time to come back to Earth after landing on the Moon
The Union Cabinet approved the mission to moon, named Chandrayaan–4 to develop and demonstrate the technologies to come back to Earth after successfully landing on the Moon and also collect moon samples and analyse them on Earth. This Chandrayaan–4 mission will achieve the foundational technologies capabilities eventually for an Indian landing on the moon (planned by year 2040) and return safely back to Earth. Major technologies that are required for docking/undocking, landing, safe return to Earth and also accomplish lunar sample collection and analysis would be demonstrated. The total fund requirement for the technology demonstration mission “Chandrayaan–4” is Rs. 2104 Crore. The cost includes spacecraft development and realisation, two launch vehicle missions of LVM3, external deep space network support and conducting special tests for design validation, finally leading to the mission of landing on moon surface and safe return to Earth along with the collected lunar sample. The mission would enable India to be self–sufficient in critical foundational technologies for manned missions, lunar sample return and scientific analysis of Lunar samples. Towards realisation there would be a significant involvement of Indian industry. Plan for associating the Indian academia through Chandrayaan–4 science meets, workshops, is already in place. This mission will also ensure the establishment of facilities for curation and analysis of the returned samples, which will be national assets.
Left: Stack–1 in Chandrayaan–4, which comprises the Ascender and Descender Modules Right: Stack–2 in Chandrayaan–4, which comprises the Transfer, Re–entry and Propulsion Modules.