Fri Sep 20 08:10:12 UTC 2024: ## India’s Space Ambitions Get a Boost with New Launch Vehicle: Soorya

The Indian government has approved the development of a next-generation launch vehicle (NGLV), nicknamed “Soorya”, marking a significant step towards strengthening the country’s space capabilities. This ambitious project is designed to support India’s goal of establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian Space Station) and achieving a crewed lunar landing by 2040.

Soorya, with a payload capacity three times that of the current LVM3 rocket, is projected to be only 1.5 times the cost. It will be able to launch up to 30 tonnes of payload into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The NGLV will feature modular green propulsion systems, showcasing India’s commitment to sustainable space exploration.

This new launch vehicle will play a crucial role in various missions, including launching modules for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, facilitating lunar and interplanetary exploration, and deploying communication and earth observation satellite constellations.

The development of Soorya is expected to significantly boost India’s space ecosystem in terms of capability and capacity. Currently, India has achieved self-reliance in launching satellites up to 10 tonnes to LEO and 4 tonnes to Geo-Synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) using existing launch vehicles like PSLV, GSLV, LVM3, and SSLV.

This news article highlights the recent development of Soorya and its potential impact on India’s space program, while also mentioning its contribution to the nation’s ambitions of establishing a space station and conducting a crewed lunar mission.

Read More