Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day visit to Japan from August 29 to 30 for the India-Japan Annual Summit, reinforcing the robust strategic partnership between the two nations. Among the key focus areas on the agenda is an expanding collaboration in the space sector, including the ambitious Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission being developed jointly by ISRO and JAXA. This high-level visit is part of the regular diplomatic engagements that have steadily elevated the India-Japan relationship into a comprehensive partnership spanning strategic, economic, technological, and defence dimensions. Space cooperation has increasingly emerged as a symbol…
Author: Huma Siddiqui
Read More
Bengaluru-based space technology company Pixxel has expanded its satellite fleet with the successful launch of three additional hyperspectral imaging satellites aboard SpaceX’s NAOS mission on a Falcon 9 rocket. This brings its commercial Firefly constellation to a total of six satellites in orbit. This latest deployment follows the launch of Pixxel’s first three Firefly satellites earlier this year. With six operational satellites, the company now offers daily global coverage using hyperspectral imaging technology—an emerging remote sensing method that captures data across more than 135 spectral bands. Each Firefly satellite is capable of imaging at 5-meter spatial resolution across a 40-kilometre…
China once again illustrated its growing confidence in space deployment with the successful launch of the Long March-8A rocket, a mission that not only expanded its satellite network but also reshaped the competitive dynamics of low-Earth orbit communications. On August 25, 2025, at 19:08 UTC (03:08 local time), the third Long March-8A lifted off from the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site, deploying nine SatNet LEO Group 10 satellites into a 550-kilometer circular orbit. This launch forms part of the Guowang constellation program, managed by the China Satellite Network Group, which ultimately aims to place 13,000 satellites in orbit to provide…
India celebrated its Second National Space Day at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with a gathering of scientists, students, industry leaders, and space enthusiasts, marking two years since the historic soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s south pole. Under the theme “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities,” the celebration paid tribute to India’s enduring space legacy while unveiling bold new frontiers for its cosmic ambitions. In a video message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartfelt greetings to scientists, professionals, and the youth of India, underscoring the transformational impact of space-tech on governance and national development. “India is rapidly…
India is preparing to take a major step toward sending humans into space, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirming that the first uncrewed test mission of the Gaganyaan program will lift off in December. The announcement was made during a press conference in the national capital, chaired by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and attended by ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan. Narayanan revealed that the upcoming test flight, dubbed G1, will carry Vyommitra, a half-humanoid robot designed to simulate human physiological responses in space. “The first uncrewed mission, G1, is going to be lifted off by this year’s…
In a moment symbolizing India’s growing ambitions in space, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to live and work aboard the International Space Station (ISS), in New Delhi on Thursday. The high-profile meeting celebrated a pivotal milestone in India’s human spaceflight journey and marked the formal recognition of Shukla’s achievement at the national level. Calling it a “defining moment for India’s scientific aspirations,” Singh praised Shukla’s pioneering 18-day mission as a source of inspiration for India’s youth, especially those pursuing careers in science, technology, and aerospace. “His journey will motivate young minds to…
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced plans to build its most powerful rocket yet—a monumental 40-storey-high launcher designed to carry up to 75,000kg (75 tonnes) to orbit. This marks a dramatic step-change in India’s space capabilities, aiming to place the country alongside the leading spacefaring nations like the United States, China, and Russia. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan unveiled this vision at a recent convocation ceremony, highlighting India’s evolution from launching 35kg payloads six decades ago to planning a rocket capable of orbiting massive clusters of satellites, space station modules, and deep-space probes in a single flight. The proposed…
Skyroot Aerospace has taken a significant step toward its first orbital mission, successfully completing a static fire test of the first stage of its Vikram-1 launch vehicle — marking a major milestone for India’s private space industry. The test was conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, under the supervision of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This marks the first successful test firing of the Kalam-1200 solid rocket motor — now the most powerful monolithic solid-fuel rocket stage ever developed by an Indian private company. Measuring 11 meters in length and capable of delivering a peak…
Karnataka to Host India’s First State-Led Centre of Excellence in Space Tech in Partnership with SIA-India In a major development for India’s growing space economy, the Government of Karnataka has approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Space Technology. The Centre, developed in partnership with SIA-India, marks a major push to bring space innovation closer to the state level, cementing Karnataka Space Tech Centre of Excellence as the nerve centre of India’s space ambitions. Backed by an initial allocation of Rs 10 crore over five years, the CoE will be set up in Bengaluru, home to ISRO,…
NISAR Launch Boosts India–US Space Ties and Global Earth Monitoring In a landmark moment for international space cooperation and Earth science, India successfully launched the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite aboard the GSLV-F16 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre today at 17:40 IST. The launch marks the beginning of an ambitious Earth observation mission that blends cutting-edge radar technology with unprecedented data accessibility, promising transformative impacts across climate science, disaster management, agriculture, and ecosystem monitoring. Developed jointly by NASA and ISRO, NISAR is the first mission to employ dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar technology—combining NASA’s L-band SAR with ISRO’s S-band SAR—to deliver high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imaging…
