Isro puts Chandrayaan-2 setback behind ends 2019 on positive note

The Indian Space Research Organisation has gotten over the setback it suffered on account of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, and has ended the year with six launch vehicle missions and seven satellite missions. The number is lower than that achieved in 2018, when Isro had completed 16 missions and was preparing for some major milestones, including the launch of Chandrayaan-2, preparing for India's first human space programme 'Gaganyaan' and its mission to the Sun: Aditya-1.

At the beginning of the year 2019, Isro said it was planning as many as 32 missions, including 14 launch vehicles, 17 satellite and one Technology Demonstration missions. The complex Chandrayaan-2 and the development flights of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle or SSLVs, were an intrinsic part of this plan. SSLVs are the new member in the Launch Vehicle family.

After completing 16 missions in 2018, Isro started the year 2019 not with a launch, but with the signing of an MoU with industries to outsource the production of its reliable launch vehicle Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This is the agency's first major breakthrough, as it will help Isro focus on satellite applications rather than rockets. Isro chairman K Sivan had asserted that the development would save the agency a great deal in time and resources, especially human resources. Read More