14 missions planned up for launch ahead in 2021: ISRO chairman K Sivan

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has scheduled 14 missions to be launched in 2021 which comprises of the space agency’s first unmanned mission lined up for the year, revealed K Sivan, ISRO Chairman on Sunday.

Sivan was addressing the scientists at the Mission Control Centre post the successful launch of Amazonia-1 of Brazil and 18 other satellites. He said, “Definitely our hands are full. We are going to have something like 14 missions this year. Seven launch vehicle missions and six satellite missions, as well as our first unmanned mission by the end of the year. That is our target and the scientists are working on that.”

ISRO prepares to have two unnamed space missions prior to the Gaganyaan-manned space mission. The Gaganyaan mission curates to send three Indians to space by 2022. The four pilots to be deployed for the mission are subjected to core-training in Russia. Sivan has been hopeful that his team would rise to the occasion as usual and meet all the targets which are established by ISRO.

Prior to ending his speech, Sivan indicated about ‘new normal’ which was at the ISRO centres considering the current situation of Covid-19. He said, “I would request all of you, still we have not come out of the Covid-19 pandemic…the new normal introduced at ISRO centres definitely is working following all the quality norms without violating the safety and security of my employees.”

There were stringent guidelines for Covid-19 followed at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, which also comprises of a complete ban on the permit to media personnel and closure of the rocket launching view gallery.

The satellite launch was broadcast live on Doordarshan and also updated on digital media platforms like ISRO website, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

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