ISRO’s Maiden Solar Mission ‘Aditya’ Set for September Launch, Chief Somanath Confirms Amid Lunar Success

New Delhi, August 24, 2023: Following the triumphant achievement of landing the ISRO lander ‘Vikram’ on the moon’s uncharted South Pole, ISRO’s Chairman S Somanath confirmed that their inaugural solar mission ‘Aditya’ is currently under development and is slated for launch in September.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent address alluded to future missions to the Sun and Venus, further cementing India’s stride in space exploration.

Somanath revealed, “Mission ‘Aditya’ is in the works and will be ready for launch in the first week of September. We are also planning a mission by the end of September or October to demonstrate our crew module and crew escape capability, followed by several test missions, leading up to our first manned mission to space (Gaganyaan), possibly by 2025.”

Expressing his emotions during Vikram’s flawless touchdown, Somanath conveyed, “It was a mix of joy, accomplishment, and gratefulness for fellow scientists who contributed to this success.”

Regarding the choice of the moon’s South Pole as the landing site, Somanath explained, “The South Pole has a specific advantage with less sunlight. There is potential for human settlement and scientific exploration.”

Somanath stated that the ‘Pragyan’ rover’s deployment marked the beginning of significant explorations. “Pragyan Rover has instruments for elemental and chemical composition findings. A robotic path planning exercise will be crucial for future deep space explorations.”

The rover’s successful deployment, which ISRO celebrated on its official platform, reinforces India’s remarkable progress in space exploration. The Vikram lander’s historic South Pole landing places India in a select group of nations alongside the US, Russia, and China.

The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft’s remarkable journey, culminating in the Vikram lander’s achievement, underscores India’s growing prominence in the field of space exploration.