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Subject: Space ProgramsXIND

  • Gaganyaan vs ISS: India’s Mission Is About Proving Indigenous Technology

    Why in the News

    The Indian astronaut who flew on Axiom Mission 4 has described Gaganyaan as a prototype mission built to prove technology, test systems and communicate with the ground, unlike the International Space Station flight, which was an established mission of experiments and return. The distinction separates having flown from owning the capability to fly. Axiom Space owned no hardware, while the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is building the capsule and the spacecraft in house.

    What is the Gaganyaan mission?

    1. About: It is India’s first human spaceflight programme, designed to carry a crew to low Earth orbit in an indigenously built crew module and return them safely.
    2. Nature of the mission: It is a prototype mission, focused on proving the technology, testing out systems and communicating with the ground, not on a defined experiment schedule.
    3. In house hardware: ISRO is building the capsule and the spacecraft in which the astronauts will travel, and launching Indian astronauts on an Indian vehicle.
    4. Engineering intensity: The work is described as heavy engineering, with robust processes and review mechanisms being set up around it.
    5. Status: The programme is scheduled over the next year or two, and preparation is currently ground based.

    What was Axiom Mission 4?

    1. About: It was a commercial crewed mission to the International Space Station, on which an Indian became only the second Indian in space and the first in over four decades.
    2. Duration: The Indian crew member spent 20 days at the International Space Station after a launch on 25 June.

    What is microgravity?

    1. About: It is the condition of near weightlessness experienced in orbit, where objects and fluids behave differently from how they behave on the ground.
    2. Why it matters for training: Microgravity cannot be simulated on the ground, so the environment is encountered fully only in flight.

    Why is the Axiom model not comparable to the Gaganyaan model?

    1. Axiom owned no hardware: Axiom Space is a private company coordinating missions to space and did not own any of the hardware used.
    2. Station ownership: The International Space Station is owned by NASA and its international partners, not by the mission coordinator.
    3. Vehicle ownership: The crew flew in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon vehicle, launched by the Falcon 9 rocket, both owned by SpaceX.
    4. ISRO’s position: India is attempting to make the hardware in house and launch its own astronauts in its own capsule, which is a different nature of work.
    5. Consequence: The two programmes cannot be compared, because one buys access to space and the other builds the means of access.

    What did India actually gain from the Axiom flight?

    1. Stated objective: The primary objective of the mission was to learn as much as possible and use that experience to enable India’s own mission.
    2. Observation team: An ISRO team was present alongside the astronaut to observe how operations were run.
    3. End to end exposure: The team witnessed the end to end execution of an entire crewed mission, from preparation to recovery.
    4. Ecosystem lesson: ISRO has launched many successful missions, but human spaceflight requires a different ecosystem, and the scale of operations was the biggest learning.
    5. Disciplines identified: The flight showed the range of disciplines India must address before sending people to space and bringing them back.

    Back2Basics: International Space Station

    1. What it is: The largest crewed structure in low Earth orbit, operated as a multinational research laboratory.
    2. First module: The Zarya module was launched in 1998, with continuous human occupation since November 2000.
    3. Partners: Five participating space agencies, NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.
    4. Orbit: It orbits at roughly 400 km altitude, completing an orbit in about 90 minutes and around 16 orbits a day.
    5. Function: It hosts microgravity research in biology, human physiology, materials science and Earth observation.
    6. Retirement: The station is planned for controlled deorbit around 2030 to 2031, which is driving commercial station projects.

    Government Initiatives

    1. Indian Space Policy, 2023: Opens the space sector to non government entities across the value chain and redefines the roles of ISRO, IN-SPACe and NSIL.
    2. IN-SPACe: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, a single window autonomous body that authorises and promotes private space activity.
    3. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL): The commercial arm of the Department of Space, handling technology transfer and demand driven satellite and launch missions.
    4. Gaganyaan Programme: Sanctioned in 2018 and later expanded in scope and outlay to include the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
    5. Foreign Direct Investment reform, 2024: Liberalised FDI limits for satellite manufacturing, launch vehicles and ground segment components.
    6. SpaDeX: The Space Docking Experiment, which demonstrated autonomous docking of two Indian satellites, a prerequisite technology for a space station and crewed missions.

    Key Facts about India in Space

    1. First Indian in space: Flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 mission in 1984, spending about eight days aboard the Salyut 7 station.
    2. Second Indian in space: Flew on Axiom Mission 4 in 2025, over four decades after the first flight, spending 20 days at the International Space Station.
    3. ISRO: Established in 1969, headquartered in Bengaluru, functioning under the Department of Space.
    4. Chandrayaan 3: Made India the first country to soft land near the lunar south pole, in August 2023, with National Space Day observed on 23 August.
    5. Aditya L1: India’s first solar observatory, placed in a halo orbit around the Sun Earth Lagrange point L1.
    6. Private launch: India’s first privately built rocket flew a suborbital mission in November 2022, marking the entry of startups into launch services.

    “[2025] Consider the following space missions:
    I. Axiom-4
    II. SpaDeX
    III. Gaganyaan
    How many of the space missions given above encourage and support microgravity research?
    (a) Only one
    (b) Only two
    (c) All the three
    (d) None

  • Despite reputation, India’s per-unit space launch cost highest

    Why in the News

    A peer-reviewed study estimates India’s 2025 launch cost to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at $13,302/kg, the highest among major spacefaring nations and far above the global average of $3,868/kg.

    The key distinction is between low mission cost and low cost per kilogram. India is efficient in spacecraft and mission design, but low launch frequency and limited payload capacity raise its per-kg cost.

    Cost per kg to LEO

    1. Meaning: Launch cost divided by payload mass delivered to LEO.
    2. Why important: A low-cost mission can still have a high per-kg cost if it carries a small payload.
    3. What it measures: Launch vehicle efficiency and utilisation, rather than spacecraft-design frugality.

    Experience Curve

    • An experience curve shows declining unit costs as cumulative production or launch volume increases.
    • Since 2010, the study finds a significant experience curve mainly for the US and Europe.
    • Higher launch frequency allows fixed costs to be distributed across more missions.

    Comparative Cost

    • India: $13,302/kg, Europe: $9,897/kg, Russia: $6,682/kg, China: $5,809/kg, Japan: $5,287/kg, USA: $3,225/kg, and Global average: $3,868/kg

    Why is India’s Cost High?

    1. Small vehicle bias: Smaller rockets carry limited payloads, increasing per-kg costs.
    2. Low launch cadence: India recorded only five launches in 2025.
    3. Heavy-lift gap: The 4,700 kg GSAT-N2 was launched by Falcon 9 in 2024 as it was beyond India’s available launch capability.
    4. High fixed costs: Launch infrastructure, range and workforce costs remain even with fewer launches.
    5. Limited demand: Indian satellite operators sometimes depend on foreign rideshare missions.

    Private Space Ecosystem

    • Around 400 startups have registered with IN-SPACe since 2020.
    • Skyroot Aerospace achieved India’s first privately developed orbital launch milestone.
    • Pixxel and Digantara have developed private satellite capabilities.
    • GalaxEye has booked Falcon 9 launch capacity.
    • The emerging pattern is domestic spacecraft development but foreign launch dependence.

    “[2026] Consider the following statements about involvement of private entities in India’s space programme:

    1. IN-SPACe is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities.

    2. Agnikul Cosmos launched the world’s first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine.

    3. Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 2 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • Odisha start-up flight-tests an autonomous in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing payload

    Why in the News

    A Bhubaneswar-based start-up, Serendipity Space, has flight-tested a prototype satellite carrying Alchemy, an autonomous pharmaceutical manufacturing payload, using a high-altitude balloon at the TIFR facility in Hyderabad. The technology aims to manufacture pharmaceutical products in microgravity without human supervision.

    How does it work?

    1. Microgravity: Near-weightlessness reduces sedimentation, buoyancy and convection.
    2. Crystal growth: Crystals can form differently and potentially with greater uniformity than on Earth.
    3. Autonomous processing: The satellite carries reagents and hardware and executes the manufacturing sequence independently.
    4. Recovery: Processed material is returned to Earth using a re-entry system and heatshield.

    What is LEO?

    • Low Earth Orbit (LEO) extends roughly up to 2,000 km above Earth.
    • The proposed system is intended for an altitude of about 400 to 500 km.

    What did the balloon test demonstrate?

    • Tested the satellite prototype under near-space conditions.
    • Validated avionics, heatshield and Alchemy payload.
    • Demonstrated autonomous operation.
    • Tested controlled return to Earth.
    • Serves as a relatively low-cost step before orbital deployment.

    How is it different from earlier space-based drug research?

    • Earlier experiments on platforms such as the ISS generally required crew involvement. The distinguishing feature here is a dedicated free-flying satellite designed for autonomous pharmaceutical manufacturing.
    • International examples include Varda Space Industries, Redwire and experiments aboard China’s Tiangong station.

    Why is it important for India?

    • Promotes private-sector space innovation.
    • Expands India’s space ecosystem beyond Bengaluru to cities such as Bhubaneswar, Pune and Ahmedabad.
    • Creates opportunities in pharma, biotechnology, space engineering and advanced manufacturing.
    • Demonstrates potential convergence of space technology + biotechnology + pharmaceuticals.

    Laws, Treaties and Rules Governing Space Activities

    1. Outer Space Treaty, 1967: Bars national appropriation of outer space and makes States internationally responsible for national activities, including those of private entities.
    2. Liability Convention, 1972: Makes the launching State absolutely liable for damage caused on the surface of the Earth or to aircraft in flight.
    3. Registration Convention, 1975: Requires launching States to maintain a registry of objects launched into outer space and to furnish details to the United Nations.
    4. Rescue Agreement, 1968: Obliges States to assist astronauts in distress and to return space objects to the launching State.
    5. Indian Space Policy, 2023: Defines the roles of ISRO, IN-SPACe and NSIL and permits private entities across the full value chain from launch to satellite operations.
    6. Space Activities Bill, 2017: Proposed a licensing and liability framework for private Indian space activity but lapsed without enactment.
    7. Norms, Guidelines and Procedures issued by IN-SPACe: Prescribe the authorisation route, safety requirements and liability sharing for non governmental entities operating from India.
    8. Telecommunications Act, 2023 and allied spectrum rules: Govern satellite spectrum assignment and the licensing of satellite based communication services.

    Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre

    1. What it is: IN-SPACe is the single window autonomous agency that authorises, promotes and supervises space activities by non governmental entities in India.
    2. Year established: Announced in 2020 as part of the space sector reforms and made operational in 2022.
    3. Parent department: It functions as an autonomous body under the Department of Space.
    4. Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
    5. Jurisdiction: It authorises private launches, satellite establishment and operation, ground station creation and the dissemination of space based data.
    6. Enabling role: It permits private entities to use ISRO facilities and to access ISRO technologies through transfer agreements.
    7. Distinction from NSIL: IN-SPACe regulates and promotes, while NewSpace India Limited is the commercial arm that contracts launches and technology transfers.

    “[2026] Consider the following statements about involvement of private entities in India’s space programme:
    1. IN-SPACe is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities.
    2. Agnikul Cosmos launched the world’s first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine.
    3. Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV.
    (a) 1 only
    (b) 2 and 3 only
    (c) 1 and 2 only
    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • NASA invites ISRO to join its mission for lunar outpost

    Why in the News:

    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join its Moon Base programme, the effort to return humans to the Moon and set up a permanent settlement near the lunar South Pole. The invitation was extended at the ninth meeting of the India and United States Civil Space Joint Working Group, deepening a partnership that already spans the Artemis Accords and a joint radar satellite.

    What was announced and what is the Moon Base programme?

    1. The invitation: NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme, building on the two countries’ partnership under the Artemis Accords.
    2. The venue: The offer was made at the ninth meeting of the India and United States Civil Space Joint Working Group, held in Bengaluru on 5 and 6 August.
    3. The programme: The Moon Base programme aims to establish humanity’s first outpost on another celestial body, near the South Pole of the Moon.
    4. Wider setting: The meeting advanced civil and commercial space cooperation under a strategic technology initiative aligned with the February 2025 Joint Leaders’ Statement.

    What are the Artemis Accords?

    1. Definition: The Artemis Accords are a United States led set of non binding principles to govern the peaceful civil exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon.
    2. India’s role: India signed the Accords in 2023 as the 27th country, and a total of 70 countries are now part of them.
    3. Relevance: The Moon Base invitation and agreed open scientific data sharing are being pursued under this framework.

    What deepening ties does the invitation reflect?

    1. NISAR mission: The two agencies last year launched the NASA and ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, a dual frequency radar satellite and a first of its kind joint venture.
    2. Human spaceflight: An Indian astronaut flew to the International Space Station in 2025 through an Axiom mission, a result of a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation.
    3. Data cooperation: Both sides agreed to advance open scientific data sharing and discussed joint missions to the Moon and beyond.
    4. Outer space governance: They reaffirmed commitment to United Nations guidelines on the long term sustainability of outer space activities.

    What are India’s own lunar and human spaceflight programmes?

    1. Gaganyaan: ISRO is pursuing its human spaceflight programme to send Indian astronauts to low Earth orbit.
    2. Moon landing target: India has stated plans to achieve a human landing on the Moon by 2040.
    3. Chandrayaan legacy: India’s earlier lunar missions established its capability, including a South Pole region landing.
    4. Complementary strengths: NISAR’s success is seen as a base for more complex joint missions, including the lunar base and human spaceflight.

    Back2Basics: NISAR Mission

    1. Full form: NASA and ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar mission.
    2. Nature: A joint Earth observation satellite using dual frequency radar, a first of its kind.
    3. Purpose: Monitors changes in land surface, ice sheets, ecosystems and natural hazards.
    4. Significance: Regarded as a landmark joint venture that could enable more complex India and United States space missions.

    Government Initiatives / Programmes in Indian Space

    1. Gaganyaan: India’s human spaceflight programme to send astronauts to low Earth orbit.
    2. Chandrayaan Programme: Series of lunar missions advancing India’s Moon exploration.
    3. IN-SPACe: Regulator and promoter enabling private sector participation in space.
    4. Indian Space Policy 2023: Framework opening the sector to non governmental entities.

    Key Facts about India and Global Space Cooperation

    1. Artemis signatory: India was the 27th country to sign the Artemis Accords in 2023, now numbering 70 countries.
    2. Working group: The invitation came at the ninth India and United States Civil Space Joint Working Group in Bengaluru.
    3. Moon landing goal: India targets a human landing on the Moon by 2040.
    4. South Pole focus: The Moon Base aims for humanity’s first outpost near the lunar South Pole.

    “[2016] Consider the following statements: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO

    1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission

    2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA

    3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • India’s first privately-built FFSC rocket engine signals a new dawn in space flight

    Why in the News

    Bengaluru-based Astrobase Space Technologies unveiled EVEREST, India’s first privately built 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) LOX-Methane engine on 7 August 2026. India is now the fourth country after Russia, the US and China with FFSC technology.

    What is an FFSC Engine?

    1. About: An advanced liquid rocket engine architecture offering high thrust and efficiency.
    2. Full-flow: Fuel and oxidiser pass through separate pre-burners, driving turbopumps before entering the main chamber.
    3. Advantage: Almost all propellant contributes to thrust, improving efficiency and reusability.

    What is LOX-Methane?

    • LOX: Liquid Oxygen as oxidiser.
    • Methane: Fuel that burns relatively cleanly, reducing engine deposits and aiding faster refurbishment and turnaround.

    What is IN-SPACe?

    • Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, an autonomous agency under the Department of Space.
    • Acts as a single-window agency to promote and authorise private space activities.
    • Astrobase received support through its Technology Adoption Fund.

    Why is EVEREST Significant?

    1. Technology: Makes India the 4th FFSC-capable nation.
    2. Reusability: Suitable for reusable launch vehicles with precise throttle control.
    3. Capacity: Could enable reusable systems carrying up to 30 tonnes to LEO.
    4. Manufacturing: Uses advanced manufacturing, including large-scale 3D printing.
    5. Timeline: Development began in 2024; integrated hot-fire tests are planned at Anantapur, with first flight targeted for December 2028.

    Global Comparison

    • Russia: Pioneer in FFSC technology.
    • USA: SpaceX’s Raptor is the only operational FFSC engine.
    • China: LandSpace has developed a commercial high-thrust FFSC engine.
    • India: EVEREST marks its entry into FFSC technology.

    Private Space Sector in India

    • 2020 reforms: Opened space activities to private players through IN-SPACe.
    • Indian Space Policy 2023: Enables greater private participation across the space value chain.
    • NSIL: Commercial arm of the Department of Space.
    • Firms such as Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos are developing indigenous launch technologies.

    “[2026] Consider the following statements about involvement of private entities in India’s space programme:

    1. IN-SPACe is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities.

    2. Agnikul Cosmos launched the world’s first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine.

    3. Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 2 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • India’s first private orbital launch marks a structural milestone

    Why in the News?

    Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 successfully reached orbit on 18 July 2026, becoming the first privately developed Indian rocket to achieve orbital launch. India is now among the few countries where a private company has independently built and launched an orbital rocket.

    What is Vikram-1?

    • Vikram-1 is Skyroot Aerospace’s orbital launch vehicle.
    • Built using carbon composite structures with solid and liquid propulsion stages.
    • Developed by Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based startup founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists.
    • Follows the successful launch of Vikram-S under Mission Prarambh (2022).

    Key Highlights

    • First privately built Indian rocket to reach orbit.
    • Demonstrates India’s growing commercial space capabilities.
    • Marks a major milestone after the 2020 space sector reforms.

    India’s Private Space Ecosystem

    • 285 space startups, with 274 active.
    • 72 startups have received equity funding.
    • Total funding reached $871 million across 241 funding rounds (July 2026).
    • Annual funding increased from $43 million (2021) to $200 million (2025).

    What is IN-SPACe?

    • Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
    • Established in 2020 under the Department of Space.
    • Acts as the single-window agency for authorising and promoting private participation in the space sector.
    • Facilitates private access to ISRO’s testing and launch facilities.

    Significance

    • Strengthens India’s commercial space industry.
    • Reduces dependence on government-led launch services.
    • Encourages innovation, investment, and private participation.
    • Enhances India’s competitiveness in the global launch market.

    Challenges

    • High capital requirement for launch vehicle development.
    • Need for a regular commercial launch cadence.
    • Dependence on imported critical components.
    • Evolving insurance and liability framework.
    • Competition from low-cost global launch providers like SpaceX.

    Skyroot Aerospace

    • Headquarters: Hyderabad, Founded: 2018, Founders: Former ISRO scientists
    • First Rocket: Vikram-S (Mission Prarambh, 2022)
    • Naming: Vikram rockets are named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
    • Developed the Dhawan-II, India’s first privately developed 3D-printed cryogenic engine.

    2020 Space Sector Reforms

    • Opened the space sector to private players.
    • Created IN-SPACe.
    • Enabled private firms to build satellites, launch vehicles, and offer launch services.
    • Encouraged technology transfer and infrastructure sharing with ISRO.

    Key Space Institutions

    • ISRO: National space agency.
    • IN-SPACe: Promotes and authorises private participation.
    • NSIL (NewSpace India Limited): Commercial arm of ISRO for technology transfer and commercialisation.

    [2026] Consider the following statements about involvement of private entities in India’s space programme:

    1. IN-SPACe is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities.

    2. Agnikul Cosmos launched the world’s first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine.

    3. Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 2 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • ISRO’s NavIC System Can No Longer Provide Standalone Navigation Services

    Why in the News?

    For the first time, the Government has admitted in Parliament that India’s NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) cannot currently provide standalone positioning services, as only 3 operational satellites are available for navigation, while at least 4 satellites are required.

    What is the issue?

    • IRNSS-1F, launched in March 2016, completed its mission life and its onboard atomic clock failed, reducing the operational navigation satellites.
    • At present, only IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I, and NVS-01 are providing Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services.
    • As a result, NavIC cannot independently provide positioning services, though its timing service remains functional.

    What is NavIC?

    • NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is India’s regional satellite navigation system, developed by ISRO under the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
    • It provides Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services over:
      • India, and
      • up to 1,500 km beyond its borders.
    • The original constellation was designed with 7 satellites.

    Why are four satellites necessary?

    • A navigation receiver determines its position through trilateration.
    • At least 4 satellites are required to accurately calculate Latitude, Longitude, Altitude, and Time correction
    • Without four operational satellites, standalone navigation becomes unreliable.

    Does this affect users?

    • No major impact on most users.
    • Smartphones, aircraft, ships and vehicles use multi-constellation GNSS receivers, combining signals from GPS (USA), Galileo (European Union), GLONASS (Russia), BeiDou (China), and NavIC (India)
    • Hence, navigation services continue without significant disruption.

    Current status

    • Standalone positioning: Not available.
    • Timing service: Functional.
    • Emergency message broadcasting: Functional.
    • Armed Forces: Continue using NavIC as part of a multi-constellation GNSS framework.

    Future roadmap

    • NVS-03 is ready for launch.
    • NVS-04 and NVS-05 are in advanced stages of development.
    • These satellites are expected to restore NavIC’s independent navigation capability.

    Significance of NavIC

    • Enhances strategic autonomy by reducing dependence on foreign navigation systems.
    • Supports: Defence operations, Disaster management, Maritime navigation, Aviation, Railways, Road transport, Precision agriculture, and Surveying and mapping
    • Provides secure and reliable navigation during emergencies or geopolitical conflicts.

    [2023] Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System?

    [A] Australia

    [B] Canada

    [C] Israel

    [D] Japan

  • Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 Success

    Why in News?

    The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) congratulated Skyroot Aerospace on the successful Vikram-1 mission, highlighting its early recognition through the National Technology Start-up Award 2022.

    Key Highlights

    • Vikram-1 became India’s first successful private orbital launch vehicle, marking a major milestone for the private space sector.
    • Skyroot Aerospace received the National Technology Start-up Award 2022 from TDB-DST.
    • The award recognised Skyroot’s indigenous:
      • Cryogenic propulsion
      • Liquid propulsion
      • Solid propulsion technologies
    • Skyroot has also submitted a proposal under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, currently under TDB’s consideration.

    About Technology Development Board (TDB)

    • Established: 1996.
    • Statutory body under the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
    • Functions under the Technology Development Board Act, 1995.
    • Objective: Promote development and commercialization of indigenous technologies.
    • Supports innovation through financial assistance (equity, loans, grants) to industries and start-ups.

    Prelims Value Addition

    National Technology Start-up Award

    • Instituted by the Technology Development Board (TDB).
    • Presented annually on National Technology Day (11 May).
    • Recognises start-ups developing innovative indigenous technologies with high commercialization potential.

    [2026] Consider the following statements with regard to involvement of private entities in India’s space programme :
    1. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities.
    2. Agnikul Cosmos launched the world’s first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine.
    3. Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    [A] 1 only

    [B] 2 and 3 only

    [C] 1 and 2 only

    [D] 1, 2 and 3

  • Gaganyaan: ISRO Successfully Tests Key Crew Module Systems

    Why in News?

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted three major qualification tests of the Gaganyaan Crew Module to enhance astronaut safety during re-entry and recovery.

    Key Highlights

    • Crew Module Uprighting System (CMUS): Uses a stored cold gas inflation system to automatically restore the crew module to an upright position after sea splashdown, ensuring crew safety.
    • Crew Module Umbilical System (CSU-2): Successfully tested the separation of the Crew Module Umbilical-2 (CSU-2), which connects the Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM).
      • Enables clean separation before atmospheric re-entry while maintaining structural integrity.
    • Apex Cover Separation Test: Validated the structural integrity during separation of the apex cover, which protects the parachute system.
      • The cover separates before parachute deployment to ensure safe deceleration and landing.
      • Note: Parachute systems are deployed to slow descents through the atmosphere or space.

    About Gaganyaan Mission

    • India’s first indigenous human spaceflight mission.
    • Implemented by: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
    • Objective: Demonstrate India’s capability to send three astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) (about 400 km) for up to 3 days and safely return them to Earth.

    Significance

    • Strengthens astronaut safety during splashdown and re-entry.
    • Validates critical crew escape and recovery systems.
    • Advances India’s human spaceflight capability and future space exploration.

    [2025] Consider the following space missions:
    I. Axiom-4
    II. SpaDeX
    III. Gaganyaan
    How many of the space missions given above encourage and support microgravity research?

    [A] Only one

    [B] Only two

    [C] All the three

    [D] None

  • Mission Drishti Loses Communication After Solar Storm

    Why in News?

    Mission Drishti, developed by Bengaluru based GalaxEye, lost communication after a geomagnetic solar storm affected the satellite during the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP).

    Key Highlights

    • Launched on 3 May 2026 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg, California.
    • World’s first OptoSAR satellite, combining optical imaging and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
    • India’s largest privately developed Earth observation satellite.
    • Radiation from the solar storm likely affected a critical onboard system, causing communication loss.
    • Recovery efforts are ongoing, but chances of recovery are currently low.

    What is OptoSAR?

    • Integrates optical cameras with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
    • Provides high-resolution imaging in all weather conditions, including through clouds and at night.
    • Useful for disaster management, agriculture, defence, mapping, and environmental monitoring.

    Significance

    • Validated several indigenous satellite technologies and mission operations.
    • Strengthens India’s private space ecosystem.
    • Lessons from the mission will improve future spacecraft reliability.
    • GalaxEye plans to launch two next-generation OptoSAR satellites within the next 24 months.

    [2022] If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?:
    1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.
    2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.
    3. Power grids could be damaged.
    4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
    5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
    6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed
    7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below;

    [A] 1, 2, 4 and 5 only

    [B] 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only

    [C] 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only

    [D] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and