Space Technology

GS- ❸ Science and technology
Space technology
Civil service mains examination-2023
General studies paper 3

science and technology notes
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Important definition regarding space technology

Orbit
An orbit is the curved path that an object in space (such as a star,

planet, moon, asteroid or spacecraft) takes around another object
due to gravity.
Satellite
A satellite is a moon, planet or machine that orbits a planet or

star. Usually, the word "satellite" refers to a machine that is launched
into space and moves around Earth or another body in space.
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Classification of satellites based on type of orbit and location
LEO- Leo Earth Orbit
A low Earth orbit (LEO) is, as the name suggests, an orbit that is
relatively close to Earth’s surface. It is normally at an altitude of less
than 1000 km but could be as low as 160 km above Earth
It is the orbit most commonly used for satellite imaging, as being

near the surface allows it to take images of higher resolution. It is
also the orbit used for the International Space Station (ISS), as it is
easier for astronauts to travel to and from it at a shorter distance.
Satellites in this orbit travel at a speed of around 7.8 km per second;
at this speed, a satellite takes approximately 90 minutes to circle
Earth.
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Polar orbit/ sun synchronous orbit
Satellites in polar orbits usually travel Earth from north to south

rather than from west to east, passing roughly over Earth's poles.
Satellites in a polar orbit do not have to pass the North and South
Pole precisely; even a deviation within 20 to 30 degrees is still classed
as a polar orbit. Polar orbits are a type of low Earth orbit, as they are
at low altitudes between 200 to 1000 km.
Middle Earth Orbit
Medium Earth orbit comprises a wide range of orbits anywhere

between LEO and GEO. It is similar to LEO in that it also does not
need to take specific paths around Earth, and it is used by a variety of
satellites with many different applications.
Most of the navigation satellites are placed in middle earth orbit.
Sun synchronous object
Sun-synchronous orbit is a particular kind of polar orbit. Satellites in

SSO, travelling over the Polar Regions, are synchronous with the Sun.
This means they are synchronised to always be in the same
‘fixed’ position relative to the Sun. This means that the satellite
always visits the same spot at the same local time – for example,
passing the city of Paris every day at noon exactly.
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A satellite in a Sun-synchronous orbit would usually be at an altitude

of between 600 to 800 km
Geostationary transfer orbit
Transfer orbits are a special kind of orbit used to get from one orbit
to another.
Lagrange point
space-based observatories and telescopes whose mission is to

photograph deep, dark space, being next to Earth is hugely
detrimental because Earth naturally emits visible light and infrared
radiation that will prevent the telescope from detecting any faint
lights like distant galaxies.
Lagrange points, or L-points, allow for orbits that are much, much
farther away (over a million kilometres) and do not orbit Earth
directly.
These are specific points far out in space where the gravitational
fields of Earth and the Sun combine in such a way that spacecraft
that orbit them remain stable and can thus be ‘anchored’ relative to
Earth.
 The first Lagrange point is located between the Earth and the
Sun, giving satellites at this point a constant view of the Sun.
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o The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a NASA and

European Space Agency satellite tasked to monitor the Sun,
orbits the first Lagrange point, from Earth.
 The second Lagrange point is about the same distance from the
Earth but is located behind the Earth. Earth is always between
the second Lagrange point and the Sun.
o Since the Sun and Earth are in a single line, satellites at this
location only need one heat shield to block heat and light
from the Sun and Earth.
o It is a good location for space telescopes, including the
James Webb Space Telescope.
 The third Lagrange point is opposite the Earth on the other side
of the Sun so that the Sun is always between it and Earth.
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Space debris\junks
Space junk, or space

debris, is any piece of
machinery or debris left
by humans in space.
It can refer to big objects
such as dead satellites
that have failed or been
left in orbit at the end of
their mission. It can also
refer to smaller things,
like bits of debris or paint
flecks that have fallen off
a rocket.
Project NETRA
 Project NETRA’(Network for Space Objects, Tracking, and

Analysis) is an early warning system in space to detect debris
and other hazards to Indian satellites. The project estimated to
cost 400 crore, when in place, will give India its own capability
in space situational awareness (SSA)
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Under the project, the ISRO plans to put up many observational

facilities: connected radars, telescopes; data processing units and a
control centre.
They can, among others, spot, track and catalogue objects as small as
10 cm, up to a range of 3,400 km and equal to a space orbit of around
2,000 km.
NETRA can spot, track and catalogue objects as small as 10 cm, up to

a range of 3,400 km and equal to a space orbit of around 2,000 km.
 The NETRA effort would make India a part of international
efforts towards tracking, warning about and mitigating space
debris.
 More importantly, the SSA also has a military quotient to it and
adds a new ring to the country’s overall security, against
attacks from air, space or sea.
 This is a vital requirement for protecting our space assets and
a force multiplier.
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Molniya orbit
o Molniya orbit offers a useful alternative to geostationary orbit, as

satellites in a geostationary orbit are parked over the equator, so
they don’t work well for far northern or southern locations,
which are always on the edge of view of geostationary satellites.
o The Molniya orbit combines high inclination (63.4°) with high
eccentricity (0.722) to maximize viewing time over high latitudes.
o Each orbit lasts 12 hours, so the slow, high-altitude portion of the
orbit repeats over the same location every day and night. Russian
communications satellites and the Sirius radio satellites currently
use this type of orbit.
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Van Allen belt
The Van Allen belt specifically refers to the radiation belts around the
Earth, a layer of charged and energetic particles which is held by the
planet’s magnetic field around the planet.
The main constituents of the belts are believed to come from solar
wind and cosmic rays. The belt is divided into two belts - outer and
inner. Inner belt is 1000km- 6000km and the outer belt 15000km to
25,000km.
The radiation belt can be a danger to satellites that spend

considerable time in the radiation belt. So the delicate parts should
be protected from radiation with the help of adequate shielding.
Kuiper belt
The Kuiper Belt is a ring of icy bodies just outside of Neptune's orbit.
Pluto is the most famous Kuiper Belt Object. It is similar to the
asteroid belt, in that it contains many small bodies, all remnants from
the Solar System’s formation.
This Kuiper Belt object was discovered by the Hubble Space

Telescope in 2014.
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the space
telescopes are
meant to explore
the universe in
visible, ultraviolet
and infrared
wavelengths.
A space telescope or space observatory is a

telescope in outer space used to observe
astronomical objects.
Space telescopes
JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is scheduled to be

rocketed into orbit later this year (2021).
Key Points
About:
 It is the most powerful infrared telescope of National

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
 It is also considered a successor of the Hubble Telescope and
will extend and complement its discoveries.
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 Launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, the Hubble Space

Telescope has made more than 1.4 million observations,
including tracking
 interstellar objects, capturing a comet colliding with Jupiter,
and discovering moons around Pluto.
 Hubble has captured galaxies merging, probed supermassive
black holes and has helped us understand the history of our
universe.
 The telescope is the result of an international
collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency
(ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency.
o Webb will reveal new and unexpected discoveries, and help

humanity understand the origins of the universe and our
place in it.
o The telescope will study the atmospheres of a wide diversity
of exoplanets.
o It will also search for atmospheres similar to Earth’s, and for
the signatures of key substances such as methane, water,
oxygen, carbon dioxide, and complex organic molecules, in
hopes of finding the building blocks of life.
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India’s Launch vehicles and satellites
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another Work horse of ISRO mission- SSLV
The SSLV has been promoted as next workhorse rocket of ISRO

after PSLV.
Two metres in diameter with a height of 35m, compartively too
smaller than PLSV can be used to place wide range of satellites in
orbit.
Can carry a maximum payload of 500 kg to LEO upto height of
500km.
The SSLV uses solid propellants in all the three stages and this is
more economical and easier to handle.
The rocket requires minimal launch infrastrucutre .
The key features of SSLV are Low cost, with low turn-around
time, flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, Launch on
demand feasibility, minimal launch infrastructure requirements.
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Vikas engine and cryogenic engine
VIKAS (an acronym for Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai) is a family of liquid-

fuelled rocket engines conceptualized and designed by the Liquid
Propulsion Systems Centre since the 1970s.
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The VIKAS engine is going to play a key role in gaganyaan mission and
has been tested successfully.
VIKAS engines are used to power the second stage PSLV, boosters
and second stage of GSLV Mark I and II and now the first stage of
GSLV Mark III (LVM3).
Recent upgradation of Vikas engine - HTVE (High Thrust VIKAS

Engine) and HPVE (High Pressure or High Speed VIKAS Engine)
Cryogenic engine
A Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust

for every kilogram of propellant it burns compared to solid and earth-
storable liquid propellant rocket stages.
Oxygen liquefies at -183 deg C and Hydrogen at -253 deg C.
The propellants, at these low temperatures are to be pumped using

turbo pumps running at around 40,000 rpm.
ISRO's Cryogenic Upper Stage Project (CUSP) envisaged the design

and development of the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage to
replace the stage procured from Russia and used in GSLV flights.
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Odyssey of ISRO
Indian space odyssey has come a long way to ferrying foreign satellites,
launching moon and Mars orbiters, and now planning to land on the
Moon.
1960s-1990s: The period of trials and turbulations

1962: Indian National Committee for Space Research set up by
Department of Atomic Energy and work on establishing Thumba
Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) started in Kerala.
1963: First sounding rocket launched from TERLS November 21, 1963.
1965: Space Science and Technology Centre established in Thumba,
Kerala.
1968: Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station set up at
Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
1969: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) formed under the
Department of Atomic Energy (August 15, 1969).
1971: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (formerly SHAR Centre) was

formed in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
1972: Department of Space (DOS) established and ISRO brought

under DOS. ISRO Satellite Centre established at Bangalore. Space
Applications Centre established at Ahmedabad.
1975: Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (1975-76) using a
US satellite.
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1976: First Indian Satellite, Aryabhata, launched on April 19, 1975.

1981: First developmental launch of SLV-3. Rohini satellite placed in
orbit. Launch of APPLE, an experimental geostationary
communication satellite. Launch of Bhaskara-2 by a USSR rocket.
1982: Launch of Insat-1A communication satellite by a US rocket.
1988: Launch of Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite IRA-1A through

Russsian rocket.
1990s- Era of PSLV and foreign exchange earning
The 1990s saw PSLV rocket hitting success repeatedly and becoming
the workhorse of ISRO. The rocket also earned foreign exchange by
launching foreign satellites.
1991: Launch of second operational remote sensing satellite IRS-1B.
1999: PSLV started carrying foreign payloads (Korean and German

satellites) along with ISRO's satellite Oceansat.
2001: Successful launch of heavy rocket Geosynchronous Satellite

Launch Vehicle (GSLV) with GSAT-1 satellite. Launch of PSLV with
India's Technology Experimental Satellite and satellites from Belgium
and Germany.
2002: Launch of Kalpana-1 satellite onboard PSLV rocket.
2004: Launch of Edusat by GSLV's first operational flight.
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2008: Launch of Israeli satellite Tecsar by PSLV. Launch of 10 satellites

by a single PSLV -- 2 Indian and 8 foreign. Launch of India's first moon
Mission chandrayaan 1 by PSLV. Sanction for Chandrayaan-2 given by

the government.
2009: Launch of Radar Imaging Satellite (Risat-2) and Anusat from

Anna University (first satellite from an Indian University) by PSLV.
Launch of seven satellites by PSLV, including India's Oceansat.
2013: Launch of Saral satellite, IRNSS-1A (navigation satellite) and

Mars Orbiter by PSLV.
2014: Launch of GSAT-14 by GSLV rocket, IRNSS-1B and IRNSS-IC,

SPOT 7 and GSLV-Mk III testing Crew Module Atmospheric Reentry
Experiment (CARE).
2019: launch of GSLV-31 by Ariane series, RISAT-2B and second moon

mission chandrayaan-2.
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IMPORTANT ORGANISATION OF ISRO
IN-SPACe
IN-SPACe is an independent nodal agency under Department of

Space for allowing space activities and usage of DOS owned facilities
by NGPEs as well as to prioritise the launch manifest.
IN-SPACe is to be established as a single window nodal agency, with

its own cadre, which will permit and oversee the following activities
of NGPEs. Space activities including building of launch vehicles and
satellites and providing space based services as per the definition of
space activities.
Sharing of space infrastructure and premises under the control of

ISRO with due considerations to on-going activities.
Building, operation and control of spacecraft for registration as

Indian Satellite by NGPEs and the entire associated infrastructure for
the same.
In order to carry out the space activities, capital-intensive, high

technology facilities will be required by NGPEs. These facilities,
spread across various ISRO Centres, shall be permitted for use by
NGPEs.
IN-SPACe will also permit establishment of facilities, within ISRO

premises, based on safety norms and feasibility assessment.
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NSIL- New Space India Limited
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), incorporated on 6 March 2019 (under

the Companies Act, 2013) is a wholly owned Government of India
company, under the administrative control of Department of Space
(DOS).
NSIL is the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation

(ISRO) with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to
take up high technology space related activities and is also responsible
for promotion and commercial exploitation of the products and
services emanating from the Indian space programme.
The major business areas of NSIL include:
 Production of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Small

Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) through industry;
 Production and marketing of space-based services, including
launch services and space-based applications like transponder
leasing, remote sensing and mission support services;
 Building of Satellites (both Communication and Earth
Observation) as per user requirements.
 Transfer of technology developed by ISRO centres/ units and
constituent institutions of Dept. of Space;
 Marketing spin off technologies and products/ services emanating
out of ISRO activities
 Consultancy services
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Private sector participation in space industry
Why private sector take part in space industry
i. Increasing Demand- Therefore, private sector investment will

provide the additional boost in the sector. It will also increase
entrepreneurship in the space sector after recent decision of
central government on opening the sector for private
participation.
ii. Very less global contribution- India’s share is estimated at $7
billion (just 2% of the global market).
iii. International trends and experience– Elon Musk’s “SpaceX” and
its high-profile projects have highlighted the increasing
significance of the private players in the space sector.
iv. Private sector could meet the demand of spacecraft and
equipment manufacturing.
v. India has an advantage on IT services and telecom that could be
leverage through private participation.
vi. Enhancing space technology through private sector would be
beneficial to bolster connectivity and combat climate-related
implications through a more secure and effective means.
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RECENT MISSIONS
GSAT-24
New Space India Linited launched GSAT-24 in its first demand driven
communication satellite mission post space sector reforms.
GSAT-24 is a 24-Ku band communication satellite weighing 4180 kg

with Pan India coverage for meeting DTH application needs. NSIL has
leased the entire satellite capacity to M/s Tata Play.
The entire mission is fully funded by NSIL.
Project GAGAN
 To meet the Civil Aviation requirements, ISRO is working jointly

with Airport Authority of India (AAI) in establishing the GPS
Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system.
 The main objectives of GAGAN are to provide Satellite-based

Navigation services with accuracy and integrity required for civil
aviation applications and to provide better Air Traffic
Management over Indian Airspace.
IDRSS: Indian Data Relay Satellite System
 This system been planned for space-to-space tracking and

communication of India’s space assets.
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 The IDRSS is planned to track and be constantly in touch with

Indian satellites, in particular those in low-earth orbits which
have limited coverage of earth.
 It will be a set of satellites that will track, send and receive

information from other Indian Satellites.
 IDRSS satellites of the 2,000 kg class would be launched on the

GSLV launcher to geostationary orbits around 36,000 km away.
 A satellite in GEO covers a third of the earth below and three of

them can provide total coverage.
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 IDRSS will be vital to Indian Space Research Organization

(ISRO), whose roadmap is dotted with advanced LEO missions
such as space docking, space station and it will be also useful in
monitoring launches.
 The first beneficiary would be Gaganyaan mission.
EOS (Earth Observation satellite) series
Earth observation satellites are the satellites equipped with remote

sensing technology. Earth observation is the gathering of
information about Earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems.
Many earth observation satellites have been employed on sun-
synchronous orbit.
Other earth observation satellites launched by ISRO include

RESOURCESAT- 2, 2A, CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, 2B, RISAT-1 and 2,
OCEANSAT-2, Megha-Tropiques, SARAL and SCATSAT-1, INSAT-3DR,
3D, etc.
EOS-1
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its fifty first flight (PSLV-C49),
successfully launched EOS-01.
EOS-01 is an earth observation satellite, intended for applications in

agriculture, forestry and disaster management support.
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EOS-2
EOS-02 is Technology demonstration satellite for various new

technologies with applications that include agriculture, forestry,
geology, hydrology, miniaturised power electronics, reaction wheels
etc. and forming the payload for SSLV (Small Satellite Launch
Vehicle)-1.
EOS-4
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C52 injected Earth

Observation Satellite EOS-04, into an intended sun synchronous polar
orbit of 529 km.
It is a Radar Imaging Satellite designed to provide high quality

images under all weather conditions for applications such as
Agriculture, Forestry & Plantations, Soil Moisture & Hydrology and
Flood mapping.
NISAR- NASA-ISRO-SAR
 Joint earth observatory mission of NASA and ISRO.
 The satellite will be launched in 2022 from the Satish Dhawan

Space Center in Sriharikota, India, into a near-polar orbit and
will scan the globe every 12 days.
 Three year mission of imaging the Earth’s land, ice sheets and
sea ice to give an “unprecedented” view of the planet.
 The name NISAR is short for NASA-ISRO-SAR.

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 During the course of three years, the images will allow scientists
to track changes in croplands, hazard sites and will help them to
monitor crises such as volcanic eruptions.
Gaganyaan mission
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The Gaganyaan Programme envisages

undertaking the demonstration of human
spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the
short-term and will lay the foundation for a
sustained Indian human space exploration
programme in the long run.
Objective:
The objective of Gaganyaan programme is to
demonstrate indigenous capability to
undertake human space flight mission to
LEO.
The overall programme co-ordination,
systems engineering and implementation will
be carried out by ISRO
An Indian manned mission to space was first
mooted in 2004.
Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-2007),
Crew module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment
(CARE-2014), GSLV Mk-III (2014), Reusable Launch
Vehicle- Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), Crew
Escape System and Pad Abort Test are the
important rechnology involved.
ISRO has signed a pact with the Russian firm

Glavkosmos to select and train astronauts for the
country’s Gaganyaan project.
Planned to receive assistance from France CNES in

terms of expertise various fields including space
medicine, astronaut health monitoring, radiation
protection and life support.
GSLV-Mk3 three stage heavy launch vehicle will be
used.
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Chandrayaan-3 India’s second attempt to

robotic moon landing
The Chandrayaan-3 is a successor of the Chandrayaan-2 mission that
crash-landed on the lunar surface in what was one of the biggest
losses for the Indian space agency.
It will be a mission repeat of Chandrayaan-2 but will only include a

lander and rover similar to that of Chandrayaan-2. It will not have an
orbiter.
As per ISRO, the total cost of Chandrayaan-3 mission will be over Rs

600 crores. In comparison, the total cost of the Chandrayaan-2
mission was Rs 960 crores.
Why lunar South Pole is focused?
 The Lunar South pole is especially interesting because the lunar

surface area that remains in shadow is much larger than that at
the North Pole.
 There could be a possibility of presence of water in permanently
shadowed areas around it.
 In addition, the South Pole region has craters that are cold traps
and contain a fossil record of the early Solar System.
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Reusable Launch Vehicle of India- Test demonstrator
The cost of access to space is the major deterrent in space

exploration and space utilization. A reusable launch vehicle is the
unanimous solution to achieve low cost, reliable and on-demand
space access.
Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstration Program or

RLV-TD is a series of technology demonstration missions that have
been considered as a first step towards realizing a Two Stage To
Orbit (TSTO) fully re-usable vehicle.
hypersonic flight, autonomous landing, powered cruise flight and

hypersonic flight using air-breathing propulsion are some of the
important technology in this test demonstration.
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International space explorations

International Space station
The ISS is the most complex international scientific and engineering

project in history and the largest structure humans have ever put into
space.
The space station flies at an average altitude of 400 kilometers

above Earth. It circles the globe every 90 min. at a speed of about
28,000 kph.
In one day, the station travels about the distance it would take to go
from Earth to the moon and back.
 The space station can rival the brilliant planet Venus in
brightness and appears as a bright moving light across the night
sky.
 The International Space Station was taken into space piece-by-
piece and gradually built in orbit.
 It consists of modules and connecting nodes that contain
living quarters and laboratories, as well as exterior trusses that
provide structural support, and solar panels that provide power.
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LASER COMMUNICATION RELAY DEMONSTRATION
 Recently, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space

Administration) has launched its new Laser Comm-unications
Relay Demonstration (LCRD).
 It is the first-ever laser communications system that will pave

the way for future optical communications missions.
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 LCRD is a technology demonstration that will pave the way for

future optical communications missions.
 The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) aims to

showcase the unique capabilities of optical communications.
 optical communications provides decreased size, weight, and

power requirements.
EXO-MAR MISSION
The EXOMARS mission is planned by European space agency
The ExoMars programme comprises two missions: the first – the
Trace Gas Orbiter – launched in 2016 while the second, comprising a
rover and surface platform, is awaiting confirmation for launch.
Together they will address the question of whether life has ever
existed on Mars.
Artemis mission
Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of

Moon’s Interaction with the Sun.
NASA’s Artemis mission is the next generation of lunar exploration,

and is named after the twin sister of Apollo from Greek mythology.
Artemis is also the goddess of the moon.
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Artemis I is the first of NASA’s deep space exploration systems. It is

an uncrewed space mission where the spacecraft will launch on SLS
— the most powerful rocket in the world
Objective
With this mission, NASA aims to contribute to scientific discovery and

economic benefits and inspire a new generation of explorers.
NASA will establish an Artemis Base Camp on the surface and a

gateway in the lunar orbit to aid exploration by robots and
astronauts.
It consists of spacecraft to measure what happens when the Sun’s

radiation hits our rocky moon, where there is no magnetic field to
protect it.
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NASA’s VENUS MISSION
NASA has selected two missions to the planet Venus, Earth’s nearest
neighbor. The missions called DAVINCI+ and VERITAS.
NASA is expected to allot $500 million to each of these missions that

will launch between 2028-2030.
Some interesting fact about venus
Venus, which is the second closest planet to the Sun, is called the
Earth’s twin because of their similar sizes
Venus moves forward on its orbit around the Sun but spins
backwards around its axis slowly. This means on Venus the Sun rises
in the west and sets in the East. One day on Venus is equivalent to
243 Earth days because of its backward spinning, opposite to that of
the Earth’s and most other planets. Venus also does not have a moon
and no rings.
DAVINCI+
DAVINCI+ is short for ‘Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of

Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging’.
It will try to understand Venus’ composition to see how the planet

formed and evolved. This mission also consists of a descent sphere
that will pass through the planet’s thick atmosphere and make
observations and take measurements of noble gases and other
elements.
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The mission will also try to return the first high resolution
photographs of a geological feature that is unique to Venus. This
feature, which is called “tesserae” may be comparable to Earth’s
continents.
The presence of tesseraes may suggest that Venus has tectonic

plates like Earth.
VERITAS
The second mission called VERITAS is short for ‘Venus Emissivity,

Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy’ and will map
the planet’s surface to determine its geologic history and understand
the reasons why it developed so differently from Earth.
VERITAS will orbit Venus with a radar that will help to create a three
dimensional reconstruction of its topography which might be able to
tell scientists if processes such as plate tectonics and volcanism are
still active there.
This mission will also map the emissions from Venus’s surface that
may help in determining the type of rocks that exist on Venus–a
piece of information that is not exactly known yet.
It will also determine if active volcanoes are releasing water vapour

into the atmosphere.
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Why Venus is planet of interest
It will help to learn how Earth-like planets evolve and what conditions
exist on Earth-sized exoplanets (planets that orbit a star other than
our sun).
It will help in modelling Earth’s climate, and serves as a cautionary

tale on how dramatically a planet’s climate can change.
Significance of the mission
It will help to learn how Earth-like planets evolve and what conditions
exist on Earth-sized exoplanets (Planets that orbit a star other than
our sun).
It will help in modelling Earth’s climate and serves as a cautionary tale

on how dramatically a planet’s climate can change.
India’s Venus exploration program
India is planning for sukrayaan project in order to study the Venus

which is being planned to be launched by December 2024.
It is a mission to study Venus for more than four years.
Scientific objectives: Investigation of the surface processes and

shallow subsurface stratigraphy; and solar wind interaction with
Venusian Ionosphere, and studying the structure, composition and
dynamics of the atmosphere.
The satellite is planned to be launched onboard GSLV Mk 2 Rocket.

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Tiangong space station

 Only country to own its own space station.
 The International Space Station (ISS) of Russia is a collaborative
project of several countries.
 The China Space Station (CSS) is also expected to be a
competitor to the ISS built by Russia.
 The significant feature of China’s under-construction space
station is its two robotic arms, ability to grab objects including
satellites from space.
 The 10-metre-long arm was in action previously seen in action
successfully grabbing and moving a 20 tonne Tianzhou-2.
39 | P a g e
SPACE TOURISM
In the last couple of years the concept of Space Tourism or fun ride
has taken the fancy of those who can afford it. Several big private
aerospace companies have entered the race, while the government
space agencies are trying to catch up.
India too is in the process of developing capabilities which will help in

space tourism.
Towards this effort, the Indian National Space Promotion and

Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) sought to promote active
participation of the private sector in carrying out end-to-end space
activities, and this includes space tourism.
At present, companies like Axiom Space and SpaceX are engaged in

making markets in this sector in collaboration with the American
space agency NASA.
For Space Tourism or fun rides in India to become a reality, there are
several levels that need to be mastered before the first space tourist
takes off.
Steps to be taken
First level would be to send off the Gaganyaan mission successfully.
And repeat this several times.
40 | P a g e
Most importantly to develop and successfully test reusable rockets

meant for ferrying tourists. During the tests it should be reliable and
low cost and should be feasible enough.
41 | P a g e

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GS- ❸ Science and technology

General studies paper 3

Important definition regarding space technology

An orbit is the curved path that an object in space (such as a star,

A satellite is a moon, planet or machine that orbits a planet or

Classification of satellites based on type of orbit and location

LEO- Leo Earth Orbit

It is the orbit most commonly used for satellite imaging, as being

Polar orbit/ sun synchronous orbit

Satellites in polar orbits usually travel Earth from north to south

Middle Earth Orbit

Medium Earth orbit comprises a wide range of orbits anywhere

Most of the navigation satellites are placed in middle earth orbit.

Sun synchronous object

Sun-synchronous orbit is a particular kind of polar orbit. Satellites in

A satellite in a Sun-synchronous orbit would usually be at an altitude

Geostationary transfer orbit

space-based observatories and telescopes whose mission is to

o The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a NASA and

Space junk, or space

 Project NETRA’(Network for Space Objects, Tracking, and

Under the project, the ISRO plans to put up many observational

NETRA can spot, track and catalogue objects as small as 10 cm, up to

o Molniya orbit offers a useful alternative to geostationary orbit, as

Van Allen belt

The radiation belt can be a danger to satellites that spend

This Kuiper Belt object was discovered by the Hubble Space

A space telescope or space observatory is a

JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is scheduled to be

 It is the most powerful infrared telescope of National

 Launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, the Hubble Space

o Webb will reveal new and unexpected discoveries, and help

India’s Launch vehicles and satellites

another Work horse of ISRO mission- SSLV

The SSLV has been promoted as next workhorse rocket of ISRO

Vikas engine and cryogenic engine

VIKAS (an acronym for Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai) is a family of liquid-

Recent upgradation of Vikas engine - HTVE (High Thrust VIKAS

A Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust

Oxygen liquefies at -183 deg C and Hydrogen at -253 deg C.

The propellants, at these low temperatures are to be pumped using

ISRO's Cryogenic Upper Stage Project (CUSP) envisaged the design

1960s-1990s: The period of trials and turbulations

1971: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (formerly SHAR Centre) was

1972: Department of Space (DOS) established and ISRO brought

1976: First Indian Satellite, Aryabhata, launched on April 19, 1975.

1982: Launch of Insat-1A communication satellite by a US rocket.

1988: Launch of Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite IRA-1A through

1990s- Era of PSLV and foreign exchange earning

1991: Launch of second operational remote sensing satellite IRS-1B.

1999: PSLV started carrying foreign payloads (Korean and German

2001: Successful launch of heavy rocket Geosynchronous Satellite

2002: Launch of Kalpana-1 satellite onboard PSLV rocket.

2004: Launch of Edusat by GSLV's first operational flight.

2008: Launch of Israeli satellite Tecsar by PSLV. Launch of 10 satellites

Mission chandrayaan 1 by PSLV. Sanction for Chandrayaan-2 given by

2009: Launch of Radar Imaging Satellite (Risat-2) and Anusat from

2013: Launch of Saral satellite, IRNSS-1A (navigation satellite) and

2014: Launch of GSAT-14 by GSLV rocket, IRNSS-1B and IRNSS-IC,

2019: launch of GSLV-31 by Ariane series, RISAT-2B and second moon

IMPORTANT ORGANISATION OF ISRO