G20 climate satellite likely by 2027, moon mission targeted for 2040: ISRO

Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman V Narayanan on Saturday announced that a G20 satellite aimed at studying climate, air pollution, and weather patterns is expected to be launched by 2027, with India taking a leading role in the project. The announcement was made while addressing scientists from defence and aerospace organisations at the Engineering Staff College of India in Hyderabad.

Narayanan said the proposed satellite will serve G20 nations and focus on monitoring environmental changes and atmospheric conditions. “Right now we are also working on a G20 satellite for G20 countries, India is taking the lead role, and we are going to have the launch by the 2027 timeframe,” he said, highlighting India’s expanding role in global space collaboration.

He also underlined ISRO’s past achievements, noting that India became the first country to successfully launch more than 100 satellites in a single mission, placing 104 satellites into orbit without any collision. In addition, ISRO has carried out several commercial missions, launching 433 satellites for 34 countries, including some of the heaviest commercial payloads lifted from India.

Looking ahead, Narayanan said ISRO is working towards sending a human to the moon by 2040. He stated that achieving this milestone would place India on par with leading spacefaring nations in terms of launch capabilities, satellite technology, applications, and human spaceflight programmes.

He further added that ISRO is also progressing on the Samudrayaan project under the Deep Ocean Mission. As part of this effort, the organisation is developing a titanium vessel with a diameter of 2.2 metres and a thickness of 100 mm, designed for deep-sea exploration.