ISRO’s 2020 Resolution: Conquer Sun, Gaganyaan Test, Over 10 Satellite Missions

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to touch new milestones in 2020, building upon its immense success in 2019.

The premier space agency is planning to launch around a dozen key satellite missions, highprofile interplanetary mission Aditya (sun) and first unmanned test-flight of the Gaganyaan mission carrying a humanoid next year, reports Economic Times.

As per TOI report, Isro chairman K Sivan said, “We are targeting to launch over 10 satellite missions next year. They will include advanced communication satellites Gisat1 and Gisat-12R and earth observation satellites Risat-2BR2 and Microsat (for surveillance). We are also targeting to launch Aditya L1 (sun) mission by mid-2020 and the first unmanned test-flight of Gaganyaan in December.”

Aditya-L1’ will observe and study the corona of the sun, given it is still unknown how the corona gets heated to such high temperatures. The Corona are the outer layers of the Sun which extends to thousands of kilometres.

According to ISRO chief K Sivan, Aditya-L1 will gives its analysis on corona because it has a big impact on climate change. The Aditya-L1 will be placed in an orbit 1.5 million kilometers away from the Earth so that its magnetic field does not interfere with the equipment on board the satellite.

Along with analysis of the corona of the sun, the Aditya-L1 mission would also provide observations on Sun’s photo-sphere and chromosphere. It’s particle payloads will also study the particle flux emanating from the sun.