<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://s.w-x.co/util/image/w/in-isro_2_0.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273" srcset="https://s.w-x.co/util/image/w/in-isro_2_0.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273 400w, https://s.w-x.co/util/image/w/in-isro_2_0.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551 800w" > PSLV rocket (IANS)

India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has slated as many as 36 missions for the next two years, the central government confirmed on Monday. These will include milestone missions like Chandrayaan-3 (Moonlander mission) and an uncrewed mission for Gaganyaan (human flight mission).

The confirmation came from the Union Minister of State Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

During 2020-21, ISRO has scheduled the launch of several satellites including ten earth observation satellites, three communication satellites, two navigation satellites and three space science satellites.

Among the rocket launches, ISRO has scheduled launches of ten PSLVs, three GSLV MK II, and one GLSV MK III. In addition, two small satellite launch vehicles are also planned for 2020-2021.

“Indian Space Programme is focused on peaceful uses of Outer Space. Towards this, Space Technology should be used for the benefit of the country and society, provide solutions for developmental activities and address problems of the society at large,” Dr Singh said in a written statement.

For the 2019-2020 years, ISRO has successfully completed 11 out of the total targeted missions—four Earth observation satellites, Chandrayaan-2, four PSLVs and one communications and one space science satellite.

One of the most anticipated upcoming missions of the space agency, Gaganyaan, is scheduled for launch in 2022. But before that, ISRO is likely to send two uncrewed missions—one by the end of 2020 and another by mid 2021. The precursor missions are supposed to carry a humanoid robot that will study the environment and perform all tasks designated for humans to conduct in orbit.

Furthermore, the prior missions would also help to test the systems on-board, to ease out the task and detect any faults ahead of the maiden human flight. The humanoid robot named ‘Vyom Mitra’ will also perform a few micro-gravity experiments shortlisted by the Indian space agency. The spacecraft with the robot will travel the distance of 400 kms and will stay in orbit for seven days, just like the Human Gaganyaan mission. The Gaganyaan mission will carry three Indian astronauts to space.

Moreover, the government has also decided on the tentative date of Chandrayaan-3 mission—the first half of 2021. It’s the third lunar mission, which aims to do a soft-landing on the Moon’s south polar region. As part of the Chandrayaan-2 mission the Vikram lander failed to make a soft-landing on the surface of the moon and ISRO lost contact with it just before the landing. In its second attempt, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will again attempt to achieve a soft landing on the south pole of the lunar surface, which is least explored to date.