India space program: Rocket launches, missions and news

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Latest about india space program

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
Four Indian astronauts recently traveled to Russia to train for upcoming crewed missions, the first of which could launch in 2022 or 2023.

India's human spaceflight plans coming together despite delays

By Rahul Rao published

So far, only the U.S., the Soviet Union/Russia and China have launched humans to Earth orbit. But India aims to join that exclusive club in the next year or two.

Human Spaceflight
An Indian Space Research Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle carrying the Amazonia-1 satellite for Brazil and 18 others

India launches Brazil's Amazonia-1 Earth observation satellite and 18 others into orbit

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

A Brazilian Earth observation satellite soared to space aboard an Indian rocket late Saturday (Feb. 27) along with 18 satellites from the United States and India.

Satellites
An Indian Space Research Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launches the CMS-01 communications satellite into orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India on Dec. 17, 2020.

India launches new communications satellite CMS-01 into orbit

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

India successfully launched a communications satellite into orbit Thursday (Dec. 17) to provide service across the country's mainland and some island regions.

Satellites
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