Planning at least one unmanned Gaganyaan mission in 2021

Dr K. Sivan, chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

- ABHINAV SINGH

Dr K. Sivan, who was recently given a one-year extension as the head of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has his hands full, with India fast-tracking its space programmes delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Sivan’s priorities this year are to implement space reforms and fasttrack the Gaganyaan and the Chandrayaan-3 missions. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, he talks about ISRO’s priority programmes, international collaborations and also about how private players can play a more meaningful role in India’s space programme.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q/ What are your priorities after the pandemic-hit 2020?

A/ Our highest priority is to implement space reforms. We are establishing IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) for which we are accepting applications. We are also interacting with the industry. Our main space mission this year will be Gaganyaan, the work for which is moving fast, and Chandrayaan-3, for which we have concluded the configuration. We also have the science mission, Aditya-L1. Other projects such as [the radar imaging satellite] RISAT-1A are also moving ahead. In the next couple of months, we expect to finish the development of our Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). We are also concentrating on new technologies such as electric propulsion and indigenisation in the satellite area. For the Aditya-L1 mission, we are waiting for the payload to be developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. We hope to schedule it by the end of 2021.

Q/ What is the current status of astronaut training for the Gaganyaan mission?