ISRO aims for six more launches this fiscal year, says chief V. Narayanan

When the GSLV‑F17 lifted off last Friday carrying the EOS‑05 satellite, there was a palpable buzz at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The launch, which placed India’s first Earth‑observation satellite into a geosynchronous orbit, was not just another tick on the programme’s checklist – it was a clear sign that ISRO is gearing up for a busy few months ahead.

Speaking to ANI, ISRO chairman V Narayanan said the agency is now targeting “six more launches” before the current financial year draws to a close. “In the direction of the Prime Minister, we have set this target,” he explained, adding that the momentum from the recent success would help meet the schedule.

The EOS‑05 payload, he noted, is a critical asset for continuous monitoring of India and its neighbouring regions. By orbiting higher than typical low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, it can keep a steady eye on weather patterns, agriculture and disaster‑prone zones – a capability the country has needed for a long time.

Beyond the satellite missions, Narayanan took the opportunity to give a quick rundown of the much‑talked‑about Gaganyaan human‑spaceflight programme. “It is a technology‑intensive mission,” he said, emphasizing that the launch vehicle has already been human‑rated. “We have finished a lot of development work, especially around safety systems, and we are getting ready for the flight.” While he didn’t disclose a firm date, the confidence in the hardware and the crew‑support systems was evident.

Another highlight of the briefing was the progress on a brand‑new launch pad at Kulasekarapattinam, a coastal town in Tamil Nadu. Construction is on track, and Narayanan expects the facility to be operational by March next year. “Everything is going as per the targeted plan,” he confirmed, hinting that the pad will eventually augment the existing launch infrastructure at Sriharikota.

When asked about the broader picture, the chief stressed that India’s space ambitions cannot rest on ISRO alone. “What we need is not just ISRO’s growth but the growth of the entire space ecosystem,” he said. Today, roughly 440 startups are active in the Indian space sector, ranging from component manufacturers to data‑analytics firms, each adding jobs and innovation to the mix.

In sum, the successful GSLV‑F17/EOS‑05 flight has set the stage for a flurry of activity – six more missions, a human‑rated crew vehicle, and a new launch pad – all pointing to a vibrant, expanding space landscape for India.