Is ISRO Set to Launch a 75-Tonne Satellite on a 40-Storey Tall Rocket?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- ISRO is launching a 75-tonne satellite.
- The rocket will be as tall as a 40-storey building.
- India's satellite count will triple in the near future.
- Upcoming projects include NAVIC and Gaganyaan mission.
- ISRO's advancements position India as a leader in space exploration.
New Delhi, Aug 19 (NationPress) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch a 75-tonne satellite aboard a 40-storey tall rocket, announced Chairman V Narayanan on Tuesday.
Narayanan elaborated that the inaugural rocket developed by India had a lift-off mass of 17 tonnes and was capable of carrying a 35 kg payload into low Earth orbit.
"You see, the capacity of the rocket is remarkable. The first launcher, created by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, had a lift-off mass of just 17 tonnes, which allowed it to place 35 kg in low Earth orbit," he stated during the convocation ceremony at Osmania University in Hyderabad.
“Now, we are planning a rocket that can carry 75,000 kg into low Earth orbit, equivalent to the height of a 40-storey building," he added.
Narayanan highlighted that ISRO is working on projects such as the NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation system) satellite and the N1 rocket. Additionally, it aims to launch a 6,500 kg communication satellite for the United States using Indian rockets.
Furthermore, ISRO has outlined plans for launching the Technology Demonstration Satellite (TDS) and GSAT-7R, a military communication satellite designed for the Indian Navy to replace the existing GSAT-7 (Rukmini) satellite, this year.
According to Narayanan, the current count of 55 satellites in orbit will triple in the next three to four years.
ISRO is also preparing for the Gaganyaan-1 test mission, anticipated in December.
In the meantime, one of the Gaganyatris, Shubhanshu Shukla, has returned to India. His experience piloting the Axiom-4 mission will play a pivotal role in the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
“This is merely the first step in Bharat's venture into human spaceflight,” Shukla shared on the social media platform X.
On Monday, the IAF Group Captain met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the PM's official residence in New Delhi and briefed him about his mission to the International Space Station — a historic first for an Indian.
After the meeting, PM Modi took to X, stating, "Had a great interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla. We discussed various topics, including his space experiences, advancements in science and technology, and India's ambitious Gaganyaan mission."
"India takes pride in his accomplishment," he added.