India space program: Rocket launches, missions and news

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Latest about india space program

India's Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft in orbit around the moon captured this high-resolution photo of the lunar south pole on Sept. 5, 2019.

India Is Officially Going Back to the Moon with Chandrayaan-3 Lunar Lander

By Mike Wall published

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, which will consist of a lunar rover and a stationary lander, has been approved, Indian space officials announced Wednesday (Jan. 1).

Missions
A Russian Soyuz rocket carried two NASA astronauts, Nick Hague and Christina Koch, and cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, toward the International Space Station on March 14, 2019.

The Greatest Spaceflight Moments of 2019

By Elizabeth Howell published

Three lunar missions, commercial spaceflight milestones, the first all-woman spacewalk — 2019 was a busy year in space for public and private entities alike.

Space Exploration
India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle flew its 50th mission, on Dec. 11, 2019.

Indian Rocket Marks Historic 50th Launch with Spy Satellite

By Elizabeth Howell published

India's workhorse rocket celebrated its 50th flight with a successful launch of 10 satellites, including a spy vehicle.

Satellites
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spotted debris, marked in green, and soil disturbance, marked in blue, caused by the hard impact of India's Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft on Sept. 6, 2019.

Found! NASA Spots Crash Site and Debris from India's Lost Moon Lander

By Meghan Bartels published

Scientists and amateurs alike have spent months combing through images from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter looking for the remains of India's moon lander — and that search has paid off.

Missions
An Indian Space Research Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launches the Cartosat-3 satellite and 13 U.S. nanosatellites into orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Nov. 26, 2019.

India Launches Advanced Earth-Mapping Satellite and 13 US Cubesats

By Mike Wall last updated

An Indian rocket delivered 14 satellites to orbit tonight (Nov. 26), including 12 for U.S. Earth imaging company Planet and a prototype for Analytical Space.

Satellites
An Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle carrying the Cartosat 3 Earth observation satellite rolls out to its Satish Dhawan Space Centre launch site for a Nov. 27, 2019 liftoff.

Indian Rocket Launching Earth-Observation Satellite, 13 Cubesats Tonight: Watch Live

By Mike Wall last updated

An Indian rocket will deliver 14 satellites to orbit tonight (Nov. 26), and you can watch the liftoff live.

Satellites
This visualization shows how Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander planned to land on the moon.

India Admits Its Moon Lander Crashed, Cites Problem with Braking Thrusters

By Chelsea Gohd published

It turns out that India's crashed moon lander had an issue with its brakes.

Missions
A still from a video produced by ISRO showing how its Vikram lander was meant to touch down on the moon on Sept. 6, 2019.

India Could Land on the Moon in 2020 with Chandrayaan 3

By Elizabeth Howell published

Just months after a landing anomaly, India is ready to make another try at touching down on the moon, according to a news report.

The moon
An image of Venus based on data from Akatsuki, the Japanese spacecraft currently orbiting our neighbor.

India Has a New Planetary Target in Mind: Venus

By Meghan Bartels published

India has launched just three planetary-science spacecraft, but the country is already eyeing a new destination: Venus.

Venus
A still from an animation shows India's Vikram lunar lander, part of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, descending to the lunar surface.

A NASA Spacecraft Still Hasn't Spotted India's Ill-Fated Moon Lander

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has passed over the targeted landing site of India's Vikram spacecraft and again been unable to spot the vehicle.

Missions
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