Launch Of Three Earth Observation Satellites Postponed By ISRO

Initially planned to be launched in the third and fourth quarters of 2021, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has now postponed the initiation of three earth observation satellites, Indian Express reports.

As per the latest monthly report of the Department of Space, the three launches have now been scheduled for the first quarter of 2022.

Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (MoS) for the Department of Space, had revealed in November that the inaugural uncrewed flight of the Gaganyan mission could start of in the following month onwards.

On the other hand, the next uncrewed mission has been slated for some later part of 2022 whereas the crewed one will take place in 2023.

According to the scheduled plans, ISRO will be taking up at least four different missions in the coming three months.

“As for the Gaganyaan mission, there is no clarity on the mission plan; ISRO needs two relay satellites in space to cover the dark spots in communication with the space module. However, we do not know whether this would be done before the first uncrewed mission,” Ajay Lele, senior fellow at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, was quoted by the aforementioned publication.

He added, “If they are just testing the components for human survival during the first mission, they would not need it. However, it is always better to have all systems in place and test everything together.”