Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to propel a 75,000 kg cargo into a low Earth orbit with a rocket standing four hundred meters tall.

ISRO's Ambitious Space Missions and Milestones

In a significant leap for India's space programme, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a series of ambitious missions, marking a transition from primarily satellite launches to crewed missions, planetary probes, and space habitat development.

Upcoming Missions

Gaganyaan-2: An uncrewed human spaceflight test mission, Gaganyaan-2 is planned for mid-2025. The mission aims to validate ISRO’s crew module, life support systems, and avionics, paving the way for India’s first crewed spaceflight. The Gaganyaan spacecraft is designed to carry up to three astronauts for up to seven days in low Earth orbit around 400 km altitude. The first uncrewed mission, carrying "Vyomitra," a humanoid robot to simulate human responses in space, is targeted for December 2025.
Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS): Following Gaganyaan, ISRO plans to develop a modular space station, aiming for launch 5-7 years after Gaganyaan, roughly in the early 2030s. The station will have about 20 tonnes mass, orbit at 400 km altitude, support up to three astronauts for 15-20 day missions, and serve as a platform for international research collaborations in microgravity, space biology, and medicine.
Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM): Slated for late 2025, this is India’s first mission to Venus to study its atmosphere, surface, and climate history, enhancing understanding of Venus and Earth-like planetary evolution.
Mars Orbiter Mission 2 (Mangalyaan-2): Planned for 2026, this mission will build on the success of the first Mars Orbiter Mission by exploring the Martian surface and atmosphere with upgraded instruments.
Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (with JAXA): Also planned for 2026, this joint mission with Japan’s space agency JAXA aims to explore the Moon’s south pole to detect water ice and conduct geological studies.

Significant Milestones Achieved

In August 2023, India achieved its first soft landing on an extraterrestrial body, a historic achievement placing India among elite spacefaring nations.
The collaborative NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite mission was launched in July 2025. It uses dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar to monitor Earth’s surface for natural hazards, agriculture, and infrastructure.
ISRO’s development of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program is near a significant milestone with its upcoming uncrewed test flights and the construction of a future space station.

Rocket Developments and Launches

ISRO is developing more powerful, less polluting rocket engines to enable heavier payloads and longer missions. Nine rocket launches are planned for 2025, including the use of industrially built launch vehicles by HAL and L&T. The first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) succeeded, validating parachute systems for safe astronaut return, a critical milestone for human missions like Gaganyaan.

Milestones Ahead

ISRO has approved the development of a heavy lift Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) with a recoverable first stage. ISRO has also achieved several milestones in the space sector, including the Mars Orbiter mission (MOM) which was less expensive than an autofare.

Together, these missions and milestones mark ISRO’s transition from primarily satellite launches to ambitious crewed missions, planetary probes, and space habitat development, reflecting India’s growing prowess in global space exploration.

Summary Table of Key Upcoming Missions

| Mission | Type | Planned Launch | Key Objectives | |---------------------------|-----------------------|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Gaganyaan-2 | Uncrewed Human Flight | Mid-2025 | Test crew module and support systems for human spaceflight | | Bharatiya Antariksh Station| Modular Space Station | Early 2030s | Support crewed science missions, microgravity research | | Venus Orbiter Mission (Shukrayaan) | Planetary Exploration | Late 2025 | Study Venus atmosphere, surface, and climate history | | Mars Orbiter Mission 2 | Planetary Exploration | 2026 | Explore Mars surface, atmosphere, climate | | Lunar Polar Exploration (with JAXA) | Lunar Mission | 2026 | Explore Moon’s south pole for water ice and geology |

This roadmap highlights ISRO’s ambitious and multi-domain plans for the next decade, aligned with historic achievements and expanding capabilities.

This article was published on August 19, 2025.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to propel a 75,000 kg cargo into a low Earth orbit with a rocket standing four hundred meters tall.