After year of successes, ISRO set for big leaps, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• ISRO successfully launched the LVM3-M4 mission, deploying the 6,100-kg Bluebird Block-2 satellite into low-earth orbit.
• The LVM3-M4 mission demonstrated ISRO's capability to launch very heavy satellites, weighing six tonnes or more.
• In July, ISRO launched the NISAR mission, a joint India-US space mission with unique Synthetic Aperture Radars.
• ISRO is planning at least six more launches before March next year, including the first uncrewed Gaganyaan flight.

Detailed Insights:

• Earlier in the year, ISRO demonstrated its ability to dock and undock two satellites in space during the SPADEX mission, crucial for future space station and lunar missions.
• The NISAR satellite carries two Synthetic Aperture Radars of different frequencies, designed to produce detailed images of Earth.
• The LVM3-M4 mission in November placed the 4,400-kg CMS-03 satellite into geosynchronous orbit, showcasing heavy payload capacity.
• The Gaganyaan programme's first uncrewed flight will carry a humanoid robot, marking a step towards human spaceflight.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Low-Earth Orbit (LEO): An orbit around Earth with an altitude of approximately 2,000 km.
• Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO): An orbit where a satellite orbits Earth in the same time it takes Earth to rotate.
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): A type of radar that creates two- or three-dimensional reconstructions of objects.