Aiming to launch 50 satellites in next 5 years : ISRO Chairman Dr S Somnath

The satellites would help in geo-intelligence gathering to track the movement of troops from space

ISRO Chief S Somnath, Credits – Times Now

Mumbai – While speaking at the IIT Mumbai Annual Science Festival, the Chairman of ISRO, Dr S Somnath said, “We have already configured 50 satellites to be realised in the next five years and this is going to be launched for India for supporting this particular geo-intelligence capability over the next five years plus (period),” the ISRO chief added. The satellites have the capacity to monitor borders and neighbouring areas. He stated that a way has been found by which a layer of satellites can be launched starting from GEO (geostationary equatorial orbit) to LEO (lower earth orbit) and also (in) very low earth orbit where we need very critical assessment of some situation”.

He further said, “This is our priority. The strength of a nation depends upon the information regarding the happenings in the neighbouring countries”.

Dr Somnath said, in future, climate will be a sensitive issue. A study of factors, such as, air pollution, green-house gases, the ocean behaviour, soil, and radiation will be required. For this, we propose to build a satellite with the help of G20 countries offering equipment and other contribution. We plan to launch this satellite in next 2 years, which will be our contribution to the world. We wish that the scientists from the whole world can use the information given by this satellite for their research.

Aditya-L1 will reach Lagrange Point, at 4 p.m. on 6th January 2024

(From Lagrange Point, the Sun can be seen without any interruption)

Regarding the first solar campaign Dr Somnath informed that Aditya-L1 satellite will arrive at Lagrange Point on 6th January 2024, at 4 p.m. Aditya-L1 equipment are checked and working well.

On 2nd September 2023, Aditya-L1 was launched from the space centre, ‘Satish Dhavan’ at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. ISRO’s Aditya L1 mission aims at a thorough examination of the Sun. Launched via PSLV-C57 on 2nd September 2023, the spacecraft will enter a halo orbit around L1, which will be positioned about 1.5 million km away from Earth.

Somnath said, “Aditya in Sanskrit means the Sun. L1 here refers to Lagrange Point 1 of the Sun-Earth system. For common understanding, L1 is a location in space where the gravitational forces of two celestial bodies, such as the Sun and Earth, are in equilibrium. This allows an object placed there to remain relatively stable with respect to both celestial bodies”.