| Mission / Year / Status | Main Objective | Payload / Lander / Rover / Involvement | Key Notes (Pointwise, including what was new) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XPoSat | 1 Jan 2024 | Launched / Operational | To study X-ray polarisation, timing and spectroscopy of cosmic sources such as black holes and neutron stars. | Payloads: POLIX, XSPECT | Lander/Rover: Not applicable | Involvement: ISRO; POLIX by Raman Research Institute, XSPECT by URSC | • India’s first dedicated space-based X-ray polarimetry mission • New: combination of polarisation + timing + spectroscopy on one platform • ~143 GB scientific data released • Guest Observer Programme for Indian scientists • Proposal-driven observatory model (like AstroSat) • PSLV-C58 also carried POEM-3 experimental payloads |
| GSLV-F14 / INSAT-3DS | 17 Feb 2024 | Launched / Operational | To strengthen meteorological observation, weather forecasting, ocean and land monitoring, disaster warning, data relay, and search & rescue services. | Payloads: 6-channel Imager, 19-channel Sounder, DRT, SAS&R | | Involvement: ISRO; mission funded by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) | • Successfully placed INSAT-3DS in intended GTO • Supports IMD, NCMRWF, IITM, NIOT, INCOIS etc. • New / important point: strengthened confidence in GSLV Mark-II ahead of future missions like NISAR • GSLV described as moving from “naughty boy” to “disciplined boy” • Indian industries significantly contributed |
| SSLV-D3 / EOS-08 | 16 Aug 2024 | Launched / Operational | To develop and validate a microsatellite platform, test payload compatibility, and demonstrate technologies for future operational satellites. | Payloads: EOIR, GNSS-R, SiC UV Dosimeter | Involvement: ISRO; commercial relevance for NSIL | • Third and final developmental flight of SSLV • New in this mission: completion of SSLV development phase • Marked ISRO’s stronger entry into the small satellite launch market • EOIR enabled day-night IR imaging • GNSS-R useful for soil moisture, flood detection, cryosphere studies • SiC UV Dosimeter linked with Gaganyaan crew module monitoring • New tech used: CBSP integrated avionics, Micro-DGA, M-PAA, flexible solar panel, nano-star sensor, SSTCR charging, auto-launch pad initialization • SR-0 Demosat also placed in orbit |
| NISAR | 30 Jul 2025 | Launched / Operational | To study land and ice deformation, ecosystems, wetlands, ice sheets, glaciers, soil moisture, and other Earth-system changes. | Payloads: L-band SAR + S-band SAR | Involvement: ISRO + NASA/JPL | • First joint satellite mission of ISRO and NASA • New in this mission: first satellite to use dual-frequency SAR from one platform • Uses SweepSAR technology for high-resolution, wide-swath imaging • Uses large 12 m unfurlable reflector antenna on 9 m boom • Global revisit in 12 days • Free and open data policy • First public S-band image captured Godavari Delta • Antenna deployment completed after launch • Science phase announced after calibration • Shows long-term India-US technical cooperation |
| Gaganyaan | Uncrewed phase 2025–26; Crewed target 2027 | Not yet launched (human mission) | To demonstrate India’s capability to send humans to Low Earth Orbit, keep them there for a short duration, and bring them back safely. | Payload / Systems: Crew Module, escape system, parachute recovery system | Involvement: ISRO + Indian Air Force + DRDO + Indian Navy + Indian Coast Guard | • India’s first human spaceflight mission • New in this mission: India entering human spaceflight capability • Planned for 3-member crew for up to 3 days in LEO • Vyommitra half-humanoid robot to fly in uncrewed mission • IADT-01 validated parachute-based recovery system • Test sequence includes TV-D2, G1 uncrewed mission, then further validation • Human-rated launch vehicle referred to as HLMV-III / human-rated LVM3 • Major focus on crew safety, deceleration, splashdown recovery |
| Chandrayaan-4 | Target 2028 | Approved / Yet to launch | To land on the Moon, collect samples, and return them to Earth. | Mission Elements: PM, DM, AM, TM, RM | Lander: DM + AM combined stack for soft landing | Involvement: ISRO | • India’s lunar sample-return mission • New in this mission: first Indian mission aimed at bringing Moon samples back to Earth • Described as India’s most complex lunar mission yet • Landing area identified near Mons Mouton in south polar region • Candidate sites studied: MM-1, MM-3, MM-4, MM-5 • MM-4 chosen as most suitable potential site • Site selected using OHRC multi-view data from Chandrayaan-2 orbiter • Importance: safe landing + scientifically valuable sample collection + ascent from lunar surface • Related geology study by IIT Kharagpur + PRL on titanium-rich basalts supports mission planning |
| Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX | Approved / Under planning / Post-Chandrayaan-4 phase | To study lunar water and volatile materials in Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) near the lunar south pole. | Lander: ISRO-built lunar lander | Rover: JAXA / MHI-made rover (~350 kg) | Payloads: scientific instruments for in-situ volatile analysis | Involvement: ISRO + JAXA, with contributions from ESA and NASA instruments | • Fifth mission in Chandrayaan series • New in this mission: major India-Japan lunar collaboration focused on in-situ polar volatile / water-ice study • Rover much heavier than Pragyan: about 350 kg • Surface operation expected around 100 days, possibly up to 1 year • Mission to launch on JAXA H3-24L rocket • Focus on direct measurement of quantity, quality and distribution of lunar water • Important precursor for future sustainable lunar exploration and long-term human missions • Linked with India’s goal of landing astronauts on Moon by 2040 |
| Mission | What is especially new? | Why important? | Quick focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| XPoSat | First Indian X-ray polarimetry mission | Entry into advanced space astronomy | Polarisation science |
| INSAT-3DS | Stronger operational confidence in GSLV | Better weather and disaster services | Meteorology |
| EOS-08 / SSLV-D3 | Completion of SSLV development | Small-satellite launch capability | Low-cost launch ecosystem |
| NISAR | First ISRO-NASA joint satellite; first dual-frequency SAR mission | High-value Earth observation | 12-day global mapping |
| Gaganyaan | First Indian human spaceflight programme | Human space capability | Crew safety and recovery |
| Chandrayaan-4 | First Indian lunar sample return mission | Big jump beyond soft landing | Sample collection + return |
| Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX | First major ISRO-JAXA lunar polar rover mission | Water-ice and resource study | In-situ polar exploration |