Significance, Recent Findings & Highlights of Indian Space Missions

Introduction and About:

India marked its first National Space Day on the 23rd of August 2024, to honour the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission's Vikram Lander on the lunar surface a year earlier. 

Why Celebrate National Space Day? 

- The annual event of National Space Day highlighted India’s space exploration accomplishments, with a special focus on the landmark achievement of Chandrayaan-3.

- The day aims to inspire a flow of fresh talent into fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), critical for fuelling India's future space endeavours. 

Unveiling the Theme for 2024 

The selected theme for National Space Day in 2024 is, 'Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga’.

Recent Discoveries of Chandrayaan-3

- The relatively uniform terrain around the landing site of Chandrayaan-3.

- Evidence supporting the Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO) hypothesis with signs suggesting a molten surface once existing beneath the lunar surface.

- The lunar south pole's topsoil is surprisingly rich in minerals found in the lower layers of the lunar crust.

LMO Hypothesis & Moon Formation

About 4.5 billion years ago, a vast asteroid impacted Earth, leading to the formation of the Moon and initiating a process of cooling on its molten surface.

 

Highlights of Indian Space Missions in 2003-24

Aditya-L1 Mission:

- India's first space-based observatory for studying the Sun was launched, stationed at the Earth-Sun Lagrange point, L1.

Gaganyaan TV-D1 Test:

- ISRO piloted its Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1), using a modified L-40 Vikas engine, revealing the Crew Escape System (CES)'s efficiency.

XPoSat Launch:

- With the launch of the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) on 1st January 2024, ISRO aims to study radiation polarisation in space.

RLV-TD Experiments:

- In March and June 2024, ISRO carried out two landing experiments utilising a Reusable Launch Vehicle, Pushpak, aimed at simulating space landing conditions.

SSLV Development:

- ISRO concluded the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) development after two successful test flights and transferred it to the industry in August 2024.

Private Space Missions:

- Private organisations like Agnikul Cosmos, Skyroot Aerospace, Dhruva Space and Bellatrix Aerospace also made noteworthy contributions in the realm of space missions during 2024, marking significant advancements in Indian space technology.