India's space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has unveiled an ambitious plan for 2025, outlining a remarkable 10 orbital launches. This includes a significant milestone: the debut commercial launch, potentially doubling the country's launch activity compared to previous years. ISRO chairman S. Somanath revealed to Indian media that the schedule encompasses four Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) launches, one LVM-3, and a human-rated LVM-3 for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. Three Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) missions and a launch of the SSLV solid rocket complete the ambitious plan.
A key highlight is the G1 mission for the Gaganyaan program, slated for a no-earlier-than-March launch. Two further test missions, G2 and G3, are planned before the first crewed flight, H1, no earlier than 2026. India aims to become the fourth nation with independent human spaceflight capabilities, a goal further supported by plans for the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and a crewed moon landing by 2040. It is important to note that the G2 and G3 flights are not scheduled for 2025.
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, a joint Earth science endeavor, is expected to launch around March on a GSLV rocket. Delayed from 2024 due to a radar antenna issue, this mission will map land and ice globally using L- and S-band radars.
Other GSLV launches will carry the NVS-02 navigation satellite, GISAT-02 remote sensing satellite, and the IDRSS-01 communications satellite. NVS-02 is anticipated to be India's first launch of the year, originating from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre around mid-January. This increased GSLV activity presents a challenge, as S. Somanath stated to WION news on Jan. 1, “Our ability to build a GSLV and launch is going to be challenging.”
Two PSLV launches will carry the Anvesha satellite (defense sector) and ISRO’s OceanSat-3 remote sensing satellite. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, will conduct its first PSLV launch, carrying the TDS-01 technology demonstration satellite. S. Somanath emphasized the need for improvements in India's industrial capabilities, highlighting limitations in manufacturing, engine testing, and scaling production. He noted the exploration of increased investment and commercial models, including public-private partnerships.
Beyond government missions, the private sector is actively participating, with Skyroot Aerospace planning its first Vikram-1 rocket launch. This three-stage, solid-fueled rocket is designed to lift 290 kg to a 500-km sun-synchronous orbit. India completed five launches in 2024, the most recent on Dec. 30, sending the SpaDeX docking demonstration spacecraft into orbit as part of its lunar sampling, space station, and human spaceflight initiatives. Docking is planned for early the following week.