India space program: Rocket launches, missions and news

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Latest about india space program

India's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) launches for the first time, on Aug. 6, 2022.

India's new rocket fails to put satellites in right orbit in debut launch

By Mike Wall last updated

India's new rocket launched for the first time on Saturday night (Aug. 6) but failed to deliver its satellite payloads into their intended orbit.

Satellites
Technicians prepare India's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle for its debut launch, which is scheduled for Aug. 6, 2022.

Watch India's new rocket launch for the 1st time Saturday night

By Mike Wall published

India's new SSLV rocket is scheduled to launch for the first time on Saturday night (Aug. 6), and you can watch the debut live.

Launches & Spacecraft
rocket launch

India launches 3 satellites and an experimental orbiting platform

By Mike Wall last updated

An Indian rocket launched three satellites and an experimental orbiting platform on Thursday (June 30).

Satellites
Artist's impression of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The Super Flower Blood Moon eclipse will leave these lunar spacecraft in the dark

By Stefanie Waldek published

The Super Flower Blood Moon lunar eclipse means solar power trouble for spacecraft on the moon

Eclipses
An artist's depiction of the Chandrayaan-2 lander, Vikram, preparing to alight on the lunar surface. The procedure occurred on Sept. 6, 2019, but appears to have gone wrong, with the Indian space agency losing contact with the lander late in the maneuver.

India continuing work on moon landing and crewed spaceflight plans despite delays

By Andrew Jones published

India's space agency is proceeding very cautiously after the hard landing of its previous lunar lander in 2019.

Missions
An Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle carrying the EOS-4 Earth observation satellite for the Indian Space Research Organisation launches toward orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Feb. 14, 2022 local time (Feb. 13 EST).

India launches Earth-observing satellite and 2 others in first space mission of 2022

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

India launched its first space mission of 2022 late Sunday (Feb. 13) to send a new Earth observation satellite to space alongside two smaller rideshare satellites.

Satellites
This visualization shows how Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander planned to land on the moon.

India to attempt its next moon landing with Chandrayaan 3 launch in August

By Meghan Bartels published

India plans to give landing on the moon a second try with its Chandrayaan 3 mission, which is now targeted to launch in August.

Launches & Spacecraft
India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launches from Sriharikota.

New head of Indian space agency's 'biggest challenge' will be human spaceflight

By Elizabeth Howell published

Shri. Somnath is best-known for developing the country's highly successful PSLV rocket.

Human Spaceflight
An Indian GLSV rocket carrying the EOS-O3 Earth observation satellite for the Indian Space Research Organisation lifts off from Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota Island, India on Aug. 12, 2021. It failed to reach orbit.

Indian rocket suffers catastrophic failure during launch, Earth-watching satellite lost

By Tariq Malik last updated

An Indian rocket carrying a new Earth-observation satellite for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) suffered a catastrophic failure shortly after launching early Thursday (Aug. 12).

Satellites
An Indian Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle carrying the EOS 3 satellite rolls out to its launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Center ahead of a planned launch at 8:43 p.m. EDT on Aug. 11, 2021. It will be Aug. 12 local time at launch.

India to launch new Earth observation satellite tonight. Here's how to watch live.

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

India will send a new Earth observation satellite to space tonight (Aug. 11) to keep an eye on natural disasters, agriculture and forestry regions.

Satellites
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