Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander 'Hop Experiment' Analyzed by PRL Team in Published Study

ISRO-JAXA Joint Chandrayaan-5 (LUPEX) Mission for 2028: Lander by India, Rover by Japan, 7 Scientific Payloads

India and Japan are advancing the Chandrayaan-5 (LUPEX) joint mission to the Moon, scheduled for 2028. This is a first-of-its-kind joint rover mission where ISRO builds the lander and JAXA develops the rover, with NASA and ESA contributing payloads. The mission aims to study lunar water and water-ice for 100 days, marking a significant step in global lunar exploration cooperation.

India's Space Launch Cost Highest at $13,302/kg; Study Cites ISRO's Small Rocket Fleet & Infrequent Launches

A peer-reviewed study published in Economics Letters reveals that India's per-kilogram cost to send payload to low-earth orbit is the highest among major spacefaring nations at $13,302, contradicting its reputation for low-cost launches. The high cost is attributed to ISRO's reliance on small rockets and insufficient launch frequency, preventing economies of scale.

ISRO's GISAT-1A Launch in September 2026 After Two PSLV Failures; Expert Report Not Published

ISRO is set to launch GISAT-1A in September 2026 after two consecutive PSLV failures in 2025 and early 2026. The mission is crucial for restoring confidence in ISRO's launch capabilities. Additionally, the government's refusal to publish the National Level Expert Committee report raises transparency concerns relevant for governance and accountability.

India's First Private Orbital Rocket Vikram-1 Launched July 18; Gaganyaan Parachute Test Qualified

India's first privately developed orbital rocket Vikram-1, built by Skyroot Aerospace, was successfully launched on July 18, 2026, from Sriharikota under 'Mission Aagaman', making India only the third country globally to achieve private orbital launch capability. The article also covers new IN-SPACe re-entry guidelines, Gaganyaan mission progress (SOLVE motor test, IMAT-05 parachute test, crew module qualification), and a Tracxn report revealing SpaceTech funding concentration. Critical for UPSC: space sector reforms, private participation, and ISRO's human spaceflight milestones.

ISRO & ESA Extend Cooperation Until 2032; Add Human & Robotic Exploration, Space Weather

ISRO and ESA have extended their cooperation agreement by five years until January 8, 2032, and broadened it to include human and robotic exploration and space weather. This signals deepening international space collaboration and has implications for India's Gaganyaan mission and future lunar/Venus exploration.

ISRO-ESA Renew Space Cooperation Till 2032; Focus on Space Weather & Robotic Exploration

India (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have renewed their space cooperation agreement until 2032, focusing on space weather monitoring and human/robotic exploration. This strengthens India's Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan missions and ensures long-term collaboration in critical areas like satellite safety and deep-space exploration.

NavIC Constellation Drops to 3 Satellites, Fails to Provide Standalone Positioning: Govt Accepts

ISRO's NavIC system has lost its ability to provide independent navigation services because only 3 of its 7 satellites are operational, falling short of the minimum 4 required. The government has admitted this in Parliament, though timing services and emergency messaging continue. This raises concerns about India's space-based navigation self-reliance, but the armed forces mitigate risk by using NavIC as part of a multi-constellation GNSS that includes GPS, Galileo, and Glonass.

ISRO Chairman Calls for Academia-Industry Partnership to Achieve Space Station by 2035, Moon Landing by 2040

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has called for a stronger academia-industry partnership to realise India's ambitious space goals, including an indigenous space station by 2035 and a manned Moon landing by 2040. The event, part of the ISRO Academia Connect initiative, highlights the need for application-oriented research and patents, moving beyond academic publications. This is crucial for aspirants tracking India's space programme and its growing self-reliance in critical technologies.